Steve Pirce is Sidney’s new mayor.
On Saturday and through the advance voting period, electors in the Town of Sidney gave the incumbent councillor running for mayor for the first time the win with 1,312 votes, according to preliminary election results.
“The residents of Sidney believe in what the past council has done,” Price said Saturday night after the results came in. “They want common sense leadership and the stability this council has worked on for the last six years.”
Price, who takes over from Larry Cross who decided not to seek re-election, is joined on council by incumbents Tim Chad and Mervyn Lougher-Goodey. Peter Wainwright was also elected Saturday night, a former Sidney councillor.
That experienced crew will be joined by newcomer Erin Bremner, who led the balloting with 2,269 votes, Barbara Fallot and Cam McClennan.
Bremner and McClennan were among the youngest candidates running in Sidney. Price said he’s looking forward to working with a council of highly-skilled people and the “new blood we need.”
Price spent the evening at home as the results came to him, his family and supporters in Sidney by their appointed scrutineer. Price said when they got the results the group cheered so much the phone disconnected between him and the scrutineer.
Price called the group a strong new council for Sidney.
“Mayor-wise, the people were happy with the stability of council.”
Price added the new council will be sworn in at an organizational meeting on Dec. 1. He said the council will then undergo in-house training and joint training with the council in Esquimalt.
Preliminary Results
Mayor
Don Amos – 706
Steve Duck – 674
Cliff McNeil-Smith – 1,180
Steve Price – 1,312
David Shebib – 15
Council
Mike Barwick – 1,063
Rosemarie Bongers – 817
Erin Bremner – 2,269
Tim Chad – 1,741
Barbara Fallot – 2,085
Sheilah Fea – 1,475
Melissa Hailey – 1,378
Bob Jones – 1,381
Mervyn Lougher-Goodey – 1,926
Cam McClennan – 1,543
Colin Plint – 1,169
Peter Wainwright – 2,046
School Trustee
Allan Collier – 1,220
Jason Price – 1,310
Jim Standen – 557
Non-binding question on amalgamation
Yes – 2,566
No – 1,232
Final election results to be confirmed Nov. 19.
Voter turnout: 43%