By Sue Tiffin

Published Oct. 30 2018

Highlands East staff municipal council candidates and scrutineers were ready for a long night when they arrived at the Lloyd Watson Centre on election night Oct. 22.

Some ate snacks before tabulating began while one added a protein pack to her water bottle prior to tallying results of the Highlands East election which were announced just past 12:30 a.m. the next day on Oct. 23.

Incumbent Dave Burton solidified his fourth term in local office with 1557 votes over Cheryl Ellis who received 1211 votes.

“I feel excited I’m a bit overwhelmed with the support I got and very appreciative of their choice” Burton told the Echo . “What happens now we move forward and I am going to say we stay the course. That’s an old sailing term but I think it’ll be up to me to help direct and guide council for the next four years as far as some of my ideas plus a lot of theirs. But it will be and I guarantee to you it will be a council decision. Not a Dave Burton show.”

“I was shocked and very pleased by the amount of support I received” said Ellis in an email to the Echo . “Everyone knows I have minimum experience and they still put the trust in me. How could I not be humbled by such a reward.”

Candidates Highlands East staff and scrutineers take notes as the unofficial election results are announced just after 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 23 at the Lloyd Watson Centre in Wilberforce./SUE TIFFIN Staff

Ellis said she has learned much about campaigning and the voting process and said she will carry that knowledge forward with her for the next election.

“Yes I will run for mayor again” she said. “I still have my dreams and aspirations to make Highlands East the best we can be.”

Moving forward Ellis will continue to observe council and proceedings and said she would like to learn more about county council and plans for Haliburton County.

“County council holds some new blood and I believe we will all benefit by the change” she said. “I have the time now to meet more of the people that are trying to keep our four little villages alive.”

In Ward 1 incumbent Cam McKenzie reclaimed his seat with a win against second-time competitor and former councillor Steven Kauffeldt. McKenzie received 206 votes to Kauffeldt’s 66 votes.

Incumbent Suzanne Partridge who also served as deputy mayor during the last term reclaimed her Ward 2 councillor seat with 577 votes over 332 votes cast for candidate Jane Russell.

The councillor serving Ward 4 during this current council term has been Joan Barton who did not run for re-election. Four candidates were vying for that position with the council’s only new member Ruth Strong taking the seat with 323 votes. Peter Fredricks received 281 votes James Deterling received 185 votes and Bradley Keller received 53 votes.

Cec Ryall was the sole acclamation in Highlands East and will serve another term as councillor of Ward 3.

Highlands East council votes for a deputy mayor from among the elected councillors in its inaugural council meeting.