Lennie White is the new mayor in Westville

Ran unopposed, encourages more community involvement

WESTVILLE, N.S. — Lennie White is the new mayor of Westville and he wants to hear from the people.

A councillor since 2012, serving three of those years as deputy mayor, White announced several weeks ago he intended to run for the mayor’s job.

No others declared interest by the Nov. 14 deadline.

White said he’d like to hold a town meeting with citizens sometime early in the new year. He suggested he was impressed that residents opposed to the idea of coal mine exploration in Westville — which is now a dead issue — were relentless.

“A large number of people became involved in that,” he said. “I’d like to call the public meeting to get more input from citizens. We have to figure out what our identity is, and I’m open to be hearing from the residents.”

The mayor’s seat in Westville became vacant earlier this year when Roger MacKay, serving on a temporary basis, decided to run for the Conservative Party of Canada in the riding of Central Nova.

MacKay withdrew midway through the federal election campaign. He officially said it was for “personal reasons,” although speculation, while unconfirmed, suggested MacKay may have been forced out. He later announced he was retiring from political life.

White will officially take over at the Nov. 25 regular council meeting.

White’s council seat is now up for grabs.

As of yet, no one has officially declared an intention to run for the seat. Deadline for that is Nov. 19 at 5 p.m.