A long-time Protestant School trustee was ousted Monday night when two new faces won a seat on the board. With 2,701, or 10 per cent of the votes, trustee Judy Huisman, first elected in 2001, lost her seat on Monday.
New to the board are Joe Demko, with 4,346, or 16.2 per cent of the votes, and Cheryl Dumont, with 2,887, or 10.8 per cent. Incumbent trustees Joan Trettler, Morag Pansegrau and Gerry Martins round out the new board.
"I'm disappointed. I would be lying if I said I wasn't but I'm not bitter and I'm not resentful. I've always believed that the electorate has the right to choose so they have chosen and I accept that with no resentment and no bitterness," Huisman said on Tuesday.
"I congratulate Cheryl Dumont. She is a great lady. I think she will do very well," she added.
With the addition of both Demko and Dumont, Huisman said she thinks the board will do very well.
Moments after the official results came in, Dumont was visibly pleased with the news.
"I am just thrilled that the results have turned out the way they have. I'm honoured to be part of this board because I've gone door-to-door and I have worked very hard going door-to-door," said Dumont, adding that she wanted to be a voice for parents and business people on the board.
"We have a great board," she said.
Trettler led the race, with 4,301, or 16.1 per cent of the votes.
"I've worked hard and I'm really happy to be re-elected again because it shows that I think we're on the right track and doing the right things as a board, so it's gratifying in that way," Trettler said on Monday.
"It's difficult when you run because you put your name out there and you're not sure what's going to happen. It's a great relief tonight just to see the results that we got," added Trettler, who was first elected in 1997.
Pansegrau, first elected in 1992, received 4,150, or 15.5 per cent of the votes.
"I'm delighted and honoured to be back again and that the public wishes to re-elect me," said Pansegrau, shortly after the election results were posted.
"We've tried very hard to serve our parents and our students."
Martins received 3,553, or 13 per cent of the votes.
Challenger Shannon Homeniuk received 2,359, or 8.3 per cent of the vote, while newcomer Michael Johnson received 2,397, or 8.9 per cent.
Catholic races
It was an incumbent-friendly election night for the Catholic division, with trustees Jacquie Hansen, Dave Caron, Joan Crockett and Rosaleen McEvoy picking up the four St. Albert seats on the board.
Hansen led the race with a total of 3,922, or 21.4 per cent of the total votes cast.
"Even though the results for me individually were good, this is really about a team effort." Hansen told the Gazette on Tuesday.
"I believe in collaborative leadership and I really think that issues need to be talked about as a corporate board and decided upon as a corporate board in consultation with the community," she said.
Behind her was Caron with 3,704, or 20.2 per cent, followed by Crockett with 3,505, or 19 per cent.
"I'm very happy to have the privilege to serve on the board for three years," said Crockett, who was first elected in a byelection last fall.
McEvoy said she was very happy to be serving her third term with the board.
"I'm very pleased that there was an election so our community could force their preferences and I'm very, very happy to have another term as a board trustee," she said on Tuesday.
Challenger Chris Cooke picked up 2,315, or 12.6 per cent of the votes and Brock Dagenais received 1,759, or 9.6 per cent of the votes.
In Morinville, Lauri-Ann Turnbull reclaimed her seat with 930 votes. Also winning a seat was Noreen Radford with 906 votes. With only 850 votes, challenger Heather Thiessen did not win a seat on the board.
Cathy Proulx was acclaimed the Catholic trustee in Legal.
