The youngest candidate in the North Battleford council byelection race is now the youngest, and newest, member of council.
Kelli Saemann was the winner of the April 16 vote, soundly defeating former councillor Ron Crush by 387 votes to 256 according to unofficial results. Thomas Schwab was third with 55.
Voter turnout was light. A total of 698 votes were cast, way down from the 2012 municipal election and the 2011 civic byelection that had elected Brad Pattinson.
Saemann will now take over the seat left vacant with the resignation of Trent Houk in January. Her first council meeting will be April 28.
In her campaign the 27-year-old Saemann had heavily played up her youth as an advantage. She made the pitch to voters that council needed the perspective of a younger demographic.
Results were in within the first half-hour after polls closed at 8 p.m. In speaking to reporters once the results were in, Saemann said she believed new voters made the difference.
"I think that I got a lot of first-time voters out," said Saemann "I think I got a lot of young voters out who maybe haven't been as active in the past."
She said a significant contingent her co-workers (she is a licensed practical nurse at Battlefords Union Hospital) were first-time voters who pledged their support.
As for getting the word out during the campaign, "I just tried to get out and see as many people in social situations as possible," said Saemann. That included talking to people in her CUPE union.
Now that she is elected, she says her first priority will be "to learn my role, and I just want to start to get involved and ask questions."
She expressed thanks to the voters for their support. "I would just like to really say thank you to all those who put their vote in for me, and put the time and effort into helping me build a campaign and get this seat," said Saemann.
Saemann was at City Hall for the vote results along with her fiancé, Mitch. Also there were several city officials including Councillor Cathy Richardson, City Manager Jim Puffalt and several city staff.
Mayor Ian Hamilton was on hand to congratulate Saemann personally. Hamilton also extended congratulations to the other two candidates who put their names forward in the campaign.
The mayor says he looks forward to working with Saemann on council.
"I'm very excited to have a new person sit in council and in chambers," said Hamilton.
"Kelli represents a demographic that, you know, maybe we have a bit of a gap in - a younger adult, and a woman. So I think it's great, it's wonderful. Obviously she worked hard and is committed to this and I couldn't be more pleased."
