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Ladysmith voters elect 5 new faces to town council

Voters overwhelmingly support referendum questions
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There were 6,662 eligible voters in the Town of Ladysmith. (Mike Gregory Photo)

Ladysmith voters have elected five new faces to sit on town council in an election campaign that focused on the Waterfront Plan, construction at the Rocky Creek dip and the proposed building of the Holland Creek bridge.

Amanda Jacobson, Rob Johnson, Tricia McKay, Duck Paterson, Marsh Stevens, Jeff Virtanen received the majority of votes to form the new council.

RELATED: Mayoral results from across B.C.

Mayor Aaron Stone was acclaimed for a second term after being unopposed.

Duck Paterson has served a total of 30 years on council and consecutively since 1990. Rob Johnson also returns to town council after serving previously from 2002 to 2008.

There were 6,662 eligible voters in town. Voter turnout in the municipality was 31 per cent.

Tricia McKay received 68.4 per cent of the votes, followed by Jeff Virtanen with 60.9 and Marsh Stevens at 59.2 per cent.

Ladysmith residents also voted overwhelmingly in favour of service establishments for affordable housing initiatives, voting 1,305 in favour and 641 against, as well as programs related to drinking water and watershed protection, supporting it 1,629 to 354.

The first meeting of the new town council is Nov. 5.

In North Cowichan, Al Siebring was elected as the new mayor narrowly edging Jon Lefebure by only 10 votes, 3,017 to 3007.

Making up city council will be Rob Douglas, Kate Marsh, Christopher Justice, Tek Manhas, Rosalie Sawrie and Debra Toporowski.

Voter turnout in North Cowichan was approximately 33 per cent as 8,009 of the 23,788 voters cast ballots.