Keenly contested
Candidate names released for upcoming Three Rivers election
There will be some tight races to decide who will make up the first elected Three Rivers council.
Candidates’ names were released following Friday’s municipal deadline, with seats being contested in nine of the municipality’s 10 wards.
There is a mix of former council members and political newcomers seeking to make up the community’s first council, which will include 12 councillors and a mayor.
Former Brudenell mayor Peggy Coffin is one of six candidates running for Three Rivers mayor.
Coffin, an East Wiltshire teacher who has served on Brudenell council since 1988, said she wants to foster a culture of co-operation among the amalgamated communities.
“I’ve come to a new understanding of why we need to be together as communities rather than seven small, single places working for our own benefit,” said Coffin.
Ed MacAulay, who previously served on Cardigan council for nine years up until about 2012, is also seeking the mayor’s seat.
MacAulay, who has worked in various roles as a social worker over the past 32 years, wants to make sure the new council has open-minded leadership and a transparent process that will ensure every voice is heard, something
he said hasn’t happened in recent years.
“I’d like to see an equal distribution of people involved from
each community, just to make sure we get off on the right foot... we’re here to work on pulling this community together and bringing it together,” said MacAulay, whose municipal experience includes three y ears as Cardigan’s council chairman.
“Throughout this (amalgamation) process, there were a lot of people who felt they were left out… if we’re going to move forward and make this work it has to be all-inclusive.”
Another race to watch will be Ward 10, which will elect three councillors from the five declared candidates.
Former Montague Coun. Debbie Johnston is one of those Ward 10 candidates.
Johnston, a former worker in the province’s environment department for about 28 years, was elected during a byelection in 2011 and has chaired a number of committees, including the Montague Water and Sewer utility and the 2017 committee that organized events for the town’s 100th birthday.