Police investigating allegation of election fraud.

TRENTON – New Glasgow Regional Police has confirmed it is investigating a complaint about a possible violation of the Municipal Elections Act with respect to the Town of Trenton election which was held on Oct. 17.

“The New Glasgow Major Crime Unit will be investigating,” said Const. Ken Macdonald of the New Glasgow Regional Police Service, which provides policing service to both the towns of New

Glasgow and Trenton.

Macdonald said the complaint was made by the returning officer. He said the investigation is in the preliminary stages and he could not provide further information.

Former coun. Don Hussher won the mayor’s race in Trenton over incumbent Shannon MacInnis with 666 votes to MacInnis’ 604. MacInnis did not contest the election, but there were rumours circulating in the community that Hussher’s brother, Peter Boyles, who happens to be a county councillor in the Municipality of Pictou County, had been improperly helping seniors vote.

Reached by The News on Nov. 4, Boyles said he was aware of that accusation, but maintains he did nothing wrong. He said he has not been contacted by the New Glasgow Regional Police. New Glasgow Regional Police did not confirm who the complaint was about.

According to Boyles, he had been asked by a senior for help with voting. This year was the first year that the Municipality of Pictou County had done entirely electronic voting with computers and phones and he says it was confusing for some seniors.

Boyles said he has been involved for many years helping people with various issues in the community and is often someone people know they can turn to when they have a question. He said that’s what happened when the senior contacted him asking for help. He says he attempted to show them how to vote using their phone, but they had difficulty getting their pound key to work to submit the vote, so he let them use his phone. Other seniors in the same building then asked for his help.

Boyles estimates during the entire election he helped, at most, seven people cast their ballot with his phone.

Boyles said he didn’t think he was doing anything wrong, but was contacted by Josephine MacDonald, the returning officer, who told him he shouldn’t be doing it. She explained to him the perception of it was bad because Hussher is his brother.

Because they have different last names, Boyles said he didn’t think many people even knew he was related to Hussher. He maintains he did not tell anyone how to vote.

He said he did stop helping people at MacDonald’s request and from that point on just referred anyone with questions to the returning office.