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Mayco Noel voted Ucluelet’s new mayor

“I’m delighted. I’m overwhelmed, emotional and I’m just ecstatic.”
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Mayco Noel, far left, is Ucluelet’s new mayor after besting challengers, Randy Oliwa, Kevin Cortes and Bill Irving. (Photo - Andrew Bailey)

Mayco Noel is Ucluelet’s new mayor.

Preliminary results from Ucluelet’s municipal election were released around 11 p.m. Saturday night and show Noel secured 356 votes, defeating Randy Oliwa, 210 votes, Bill Irving, 142 votes, and Kevin Cortes, 84 votes.

“I’m delighted. I’m overwhelmed, emotional and I’m just ecstatic that the community has spoken to give me the confidence to be the mayor of the community,” Noel told the Westerly News immediately after the results were released.

He spoke highly of his fellow mayoral candidates.

“I adore them all,” he said. “They’re all great, great, candidates. I just, tonight, seemed to resonate with the locals a little bit louder than the rest.”

READ MORE: Ucluelet’s mayoral candidates respond to concerns at forum

He credited his passionate pursuit of a central medical hub and additional housing opportunities as key campaign issues that resonated with voters.

“Everybody just loved the fact that I was addressing the secondary suites, detached dwellings, head-on; acknowledging the fact that it needs to be allowed to allow people opportunities for their existing properties,” he said.

He added voters also appreciated his direct and honest approach.

“I just answered the questions the way they came up. I wasn’t sugarcoating things,” he said.

Noel will now look to lead a four-person council with three rookie councillors as Marilyn McEwen was the only incumbent councillor to run for re-election.

Ucluelet’s four council seats will be filled by Lara Kemps, 527 votes, Rachelle Cole, 452 votes, Marilyn McEwen, 403 votes, and Jennifer Hoar, 330 votes.

Noel said his first priority will be getting the new councillors caught up on the community’s current issues.

“I just love the four of them,” Noel said. “They’re great…We’ll be able to get up to speed quite quickly.”

He added he hopes to organize a meeting between the past mayor and council and his recently elected team, “to be able to pass the baton on and have some lessons learned.”

This story is being updated.



Andrew Bailey

About the Author: Andrew Bailey

I arrived at the Westerly News as a reporter and photographer in January 2012.
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