Leonard Foster and Eric Cummings take Ward 1, Ward 3 seats
A former Lakeland Ridges mayor is returning to council. Leonard Foster lost to current Mayor Greg Grant in May’s municipal election. On Monday, Oct. 19, residents voted him back to council to represent Ward 1 in a by-election.
Foster won the Ward 1 seat with 72 votes, while Greg Boone received 43.
Foster said his priorities are simple.
“First thing is history; the council needs someone with a bit of history (with council). The second thing is simply helping to get things back on track again, because council seems to be veering off just a little.”
The other winner of the night was businessman and former Meductic councillor, Eric Cummings. He won the Ward 3 seat with 101 votes over fellow candidate Michael MacIlroy, who garnered 54 votes.
Cummings said he plans to listen to the people.
“I want to try and get some projects and some things completed,” he said, noting that many people reached out to him during the campaign.
“But the infighting has to stop,” Cummings added, noting the issues that have plagued council since the May election. “Unity would be nice.”
The by-elections follow a significant change at the council table in May. Greg Grant defeated Foster in the mayoral race, while Barb Glanville was the only incumbent councillor returned to office.
The new council soon faced disagreements over meeting procedures, communication and the location of the municipal office. In June, council voted to move municipal operations from Meductic to Canterbury amid concerns about asbestos at the Meductic Community Centre. Council paused the planned relocation in July pending public release of asbestos-related documentation.
Ward 1 Coun. Elizabeth Luimes resigned July 13 without giving a reason; Ward 3 Deputy Mayor Stephen Manuel submitted his resignation Aug. 6, citing pressure from residents, political interference, and divisions that affected council’s ability to work together. Coun. Tanya Cloutier became deputy mayor Aug. 10.
The office dispute continued into September, when council voted to release asbestos and air-quality records within a month of the municipality’s related legal proceedings concluding. The office moved from Meductic to Canterbury earlier this month, despite objections from some council members.
– with files from James Ness
