There will be a new mix at the council table in Head, Clara, Maria, and possibly a bit of history.
Townships Mayor Debbi Grills won her second term Monday as the head of the council for the municipality.
She will be joined by two new and two returning councillors.
All together, Monday night’s election results mean four of the townships’ five council seats will be held by women.
Joining Grills will be council newcomers Rachel Richer and Karen LeClerc, along with returning councillors Fran Kelly-Chamberlain and Chris Dowser.
LeClerc is new to council in Head, Clara, Maria but served previously on council in the former townships of Rolph, Buchanan, Wylie & McKay.
Grills defeated former mayor Bob Reid in the race for council’s top job, earning 147 of the ballots cast to 70 for Reid.
In the race for the four remaining council seats, Richer topped the polls with 165 votes, followed by Dowser at 159, LeClerc with 148 and Kelly-Chamberlain with 145.
Former mayor and councillor Jim Gibson, who was making a return to municipal politics after six years away, was not far behind with 131 votes, despite having his campaign interrupted by a surgical procedure.
Surprisingly, Councillor Ernie Villeneuve, who also served as deputy mayor during the current term of council and who topped the polls in 2018 with 201 votes, was far behind this time around, polling just 55 votes in the field of six candidates.
Grills said Monday night she was “very happy” with her mayoral result and grateful for the “privilege” of serving another term.
“I’m delighted to know the people of Head, Clara, Maria still have some confidence in me,” she said.
(Photo: Head, Clara, Maria candidates speak to local voters at an all-candidates meeting in the townships October 13.)
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