Eastern Charlotte’s first-ever mayor as an amalgamated municipality will be returning for a second term.
Mayor John Craig says he is “humbled and honoured at the same time” to take up the mantle as mayor once more.
Craig watched the results come in with his partner at his home.
He says the number one priority for the municipality is improving the water quality in Blacks Harbour and Beaver Harbour.
Craig also aims to keep taxes low in the municipality, and says “We’ve got to learn to live within our means,” to do so.
He says assessments are going up, and the result is that “people are being taxed out of their homes. Seniors and young families cannot afford the high taxes in the area.”
Craig is a veteran of local politics: He has spent 19 years in public office, beginning with three years as a town councillor in St. Andrews.
He later went on to serve as mayor of St. Andrews for 11 years.
Craig then became mayor of Blacks Harbour for two years, before it was amalgamated into Eastern Charlotte, where he has presided as mayor for the last three years.
As the mayor of an amalgamated municipality, he promises to treat every part of the community equally and fairly.
“I promise that I will continue to work hard for everybody and be focused on unity,” says Craig.
The mayor earned about 60 per cent of the vote running against Alexa Detorakis, who was formerly Councillor for Ward 3.
Craig thanked Detorakis for running and “giving the voters a choice. It’s not easy to step forward in the spotlight. I applaud her for her courage to do that.”
The mayor will be welcoming many new figures to the council.
Councillor At Large and Deputy Mayor David R. Hatt was re-elected, and will be joined by Councillor At Large Adam Hatt, who formerly served as Ward 4 Councillor.
Logan Martin was elected as Councillor for Ward 1, and Michael Thompson was re-elected as the incumbent candidate for Ward 2.
Sam Rubin was elected by acclamation in Ward 3, meaning he ran unopposed.
Matthew Hall was elected Councillor in Ward 4, and Patty Borthwick was elected in Ward 5.
In Ward 6, Lucy Stevens unseated incumbent candidate Darrel E. Tidd.
