More than two weeks after the municipal elections, Eastern Charlotte has officially sworn in its new council.
The municipality held the swearing-in ceremony during a regular council meeting on Monday.
This is the second time the municipality has sworn in a council; the first was three years ago when the community was incorporated as a municipality.
Incumbent Mayor John Craig was re-elected, but an almost entirely new council was sworn in that evening, with five of ten seats filled by newcomers.
Ward 2 Coun. Michael Thompson, councillor-at-large David Hatt, and Ward 4 incumbent Coun. Adam Hatt were the only incumbents re-elected.
However, Adam Hatt did not run again in Ward 4, instead seeking a councillor-at-large position.
On the other hand, Ward 6 incumbent coun. Darrell Tidd ran again but lost his seat to newcomer Lucy Stevens.
Ward 3 incumbent Coun. Alexa Detorakis ran for mayor but was defeated by Craig.
The other new faces include Ward 1 Coun. Logan Martin, Ward 3 Coun. Sam Rubin, Ward 4 Coun. Matthew Hall and Ward 5 Coun. Patty Borthwick.
In his remarks, Craig warned the new council the next four years won’t be easy.
But he said it will be worth it as council works to grow the municipality and make it “the place to be in all New Brunswick.”
“I will not sugarcoat it, I will tell you tonight that the council will have disagreements, but I encourage debate, for it is healthy and constructive,” he said. “Every councillor will be heard and will have a say, at the end of the day we all have to agree to disagree and work as a team.”
Craig added that his priority for this term will continue to be addressing aging infrastructure and poor drinking water quality in Beaver Harbour and Blacks Harbour.
During the meeting, council also conducted its first order of business by voting for a deputy mayor.
Both councillors at large David Hatt and Adam Hatt were nominated for the position, but Adam won with five of eight votes, while David received three.
Both Adam and David abstained from voting.
Adam said during a brief speech before the vote that he believes his work as deputy mayor — when Eastern Charlotte was known as the rural community of Blacks Harbour — and his efforts to hold people accountable on drinking water issues in Beaver Harbour and Blacks Harbour make him a “candidate for the whole municipality.”
Eastern Charlotte will have its next regular council meeting on June 17.
