MacRae defeats MacLean in Kensington byelection
Newly-elected councillor wants to focus on youth
KENSINGTON – The Town of Kensington’s newest councillor is no stranger to the council chambers.
Bonnie MacRae defeated Mack MacLean in a byelection featuring two former councillors on Monday to fill the vacancy created by Adrien Bernard’s resignation in January.
A total of 163 votes were cast, with MacRae picking up 114 votes and MacLean receiving 49.
“I am excited,” said MacRae, a 26-year employee of the Malpeque Bay Credit Union in Kensington. “I enjoyed council.”
MacRae served on the town council for two years before resigning in 2008 after moving outside of the town.
She has always been interested in municipal politics and noted she just missed being eligible for the last election in 2018 by a few days after moving back into Kensington.
MacRae said there are some things she would like to work on now that she is back on council. She stressed her priority is to focus on the youth, which she described as the future.
“I would like to get something that is for the younger generation and get working on something that will keep them in Kensington.”
Bonnie MacRae
“I would like to get something that is for the younger generation and get working on something that will keep them in Kensington,” said MacRae.
Mayor Rowan Caseley, Deputy Mayor Coreen Pickering, Coun. Wade Toombs, Coun. Jeff Spencer and chief administrative officer Geoff Baker were on hand to congratulate MacRae and welcome her to the council.
“Both she and Mack would have been great additions to the council, but only one can win,” said Caseley.
MacRae said there are some familiar faces on the current council. She said Coun. Ivan Gallant was mayor during her previous stint on the town council, and Coun. Rodney Mann was on the town council at the time.
MacRae was part of the process when the town hired Baker.
MacRae will not have long to wait for her first meeting with the current council. Its regular monthly meeting is less than a week away on May 10.
“I told Bonnie, as well, we will try to bring her up to speed as quickly as possible and do what we can to get her well oriented with what’s going on, so when she is making decisions, she will know what’s going on,” said Caseley.