A long-standing record of public service doesn’t mean there are any guarantees when the winds of change come through a community, several municipal politicians discovered Monday night.
Three incumbents fell during the election in Chatham-Kent, including Mayor Randy Hope, South Kent Coun. Frank Vercouteren, and West Kent Coun. Bryon Fluker.
Fluker admitted he was disappointed, but acknowledged the strength of his competition.
“I wasn’t shocked, because they are certainly two quality candidates,” he said Tuesday, referring to incumbent Coun. Mark Authier and newcomer councillor-elect Melissa Harrigan.
“I certainly do wish them the best. They certainly will serve the area very, very well.”
Fluker has council experience dating back to 1972, when he was first elected to Tilbury council.
He said anyone seeking public office should do so with the intention to win, “but I knew that it was going to be very, very difficult. And I’ve had a lot of years. I’ve really enjoyed them.”
Fluker said one of his most proud moments was working together with the community to create the Tilbury District Family Health Team.
Hope, who served as an NDP MPP in the early 1990s, was first elected as Chatham-Kent’s mayor in 2006, serving three terms.
Vercouteren has served as a councillor for over three decades, including 16 years on Blenheim council and 20 years on Chatham-Kent council.
Hope and Vercouteren couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.
Fluker said he wasn’t expecting such a dramatic turnover on council, adding “a lot of things are going very well, particularly in this ward,” such as employment and housing.
“However, people do enjoy change and sometimes when you’re the old guy with an awful lot of years of experience you have to expect people do want that change.”
He said he didn’t have any advice for the newcomers to council, but encouraged them to keep an open mind.
“They are bright people,” he said. “Just keep open to different ideas, because you do have to deal with 17 other people.”
from Chatham Daily News https://ift.tt/2yZfV9r
via IFTTT https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
No comments: