Libby O'Hara. (Image submitted)
Two-term deputy mayor Libby O’Hara will now spend the next four years as the mayor of Quispamsis.
Unofficial results show O’Hara received 3,790 votes, or 84 per cent of the overall vote, in the election.
Incumbent Gary Clark, the only other person running for the top job, ended the night with 701 votes.
“I’m feeling very excited, very humbled, very honoured,” O’Hara said. “Obviously my work over the past ten years has demonstrated that I am capable of doing the work that people are entrusting to me so I’m feeling great about it!”
O’Hara has served as deputy mayor for two terms, and will now take over after a turbulent term in office for Clark.
She says her first step as mayor will be to put together a strategic plan that can guide the next council and prevent “frivolous” spending.
“We’ve got to be fiscally responsible as we move forward. This is a time when we can start fresh with a strategic plan, start from the point of go and ensure that dollars spent are dollars well-spent.”
There were 11 candidates for the town’s seven council seats, including three incumbents.
All three incumbents — Beth Thompson, Emil Olsen, and Kirk Miller — have been re-elected.
They will be joined around the council table by Mary Schryer, Kerrie Luck, Mike Biggar and Noah Donovan.
O’Hara said she was happy with the number of people who put their name forward for council, and looked forward to seeing some new faces around the table.
“They had the courage to put their names forward, and want to create a Quispamsis that is recognizable within the province, and they want to keep things moving forward,” she said.
Voter turnout in Quispamsis was 33.57 per cent, above the provincial turnout of 30.35 per cent.
You can find the full list of results for Quispamsis and municipalities across New Brunswick through Elections New Brunswick’s website.
