The results of last Wednesday's municipal election have determined there will be a mix of new and returning city councilors.
Mayor Walter Streelasky, who returns by acclamation, will lead newcomers Brian Hicke,
Vince Thiessen and Ron Wilson and incumbents Valdeen Mathies, Ken Karius and Mike Fisher as Melville's city council for the next four years.
Valdeen Mathies, who will be serving her third term, led the way with 985 votes.
"It's good to have a mix of new and returning candidates," says Mathies. "I am happy the people of Melville have put their confidence in me and I will try and work hard for them. A person never knows how an election is going to go. I am just happy it worked out the way it did."
Newcomer Brian Hicke who was a close second receiving 970 votes, says the voters wanted a bit of a change, which he didn't see coming.
"I am happy I can live up to the trust people have placed on me," says Hicke. "I am very flattered. I thought I might finish up there. I have been involved in the community with many organizations throughout the years and so I probably knew enough people to help influence the vote."
Mike Fisher will serve another term after finishing third with 789 votes. Another newcomer Vince Thiessen, who finished with 738 votes, was not only surprised with the number of votes he received but the voter turnout in general.
"The support was overwhelming," says Thiessen. "It was better than expected. I hadn't quite expected that particular turnout so I was pleasantly surprised."
In total, of the 3,597 eligible, 1,181 residents voted which is an increase of 90 votes from the 2009 election.
"I am happy that I am back," says Ken Karius, who received 687 votes. "I was hopeful that I would finish a little higher than fifth but it is what it is."
Following the vote Karius reflected on the past council and the work that will be required of the new and returning councilors.
"As a group the last couple of councils worked together very well," says Karius. "You get comfortable with how people respond and the way they go about their work. With half the group turning over it's going to be a learning process for the three that are left and left and certainly the learning curve for the three newcomers is quite steep and like when I first started there is a lot to learn."
Karius says the three new councilors will bring fresh ideas and that turnover is never a bad thing.
"I think they're going to be energetic and I look forward to work with them and getting to know them and becoming a council," says Karius.
One of the new councilors that will be responsible for bringing fresh ideas to the table is Ron Wilson who finished sixth with 565 votes.
"I wanted to be in the top six and I am very happy to be elected," says Wilson. "My objective was to get on council and now I can learn from the incumbents as we move forward."
Former councilors Courtney Vaudner and Lloyd Haylock rounded out the vote with 505 and 477 votes respectively.
