Progressive vote-splitting took its toll again in the Comox Valley. This time for the mayor’s chair in the City of Courtenay. Although the majority of voters did not want Manno Theos at the helm, he nevertheless won the race with 3,870 votes and 44.5 percent of the vote.

Incumbent Bob Wells finished second with 2,595 votes or 29.8 percent. Trish McPhail finished last with 2,185 votes or 25.1 percent. Together, they had 4,780 votes, which is 910 more votes than Theos.

There were 8,650 votes cast for the mayor’s race and 8,698 overall or 38.5 percent of eligible voters. That’s a 12.6 percent increase over 2022’s 25.9 percent.

Theos takes the mayor’s seat after losing a council bid in 2022, after serving 20 years in that capacity. The mayor’s race looked like a match between incumbent Wells and former council member Theos until first-time candidate Trish McPhail threw her hat into the ring on the final filing day, making it a three-way contest.

While the six-member council will retain a progressive majority with Incumbents Wendy Morin and Evan Jolicoeur and newcomers Kelly Matthews and Thomas McDevitt, there will be some other voices around the table this term.

Ex-Vancouver police Dick Clancy received the fourth highest vote total with 2,941 votes or 33.8 percent. And Rosanna Chamberlin claimed the last seat with 2,685 votes or 30.9 percent.

Incumbent David Frisch finished near the bottom of the 19 council candidates with just 17.9 percent of the vote.  

“With three incumbents not running, we knew Courtenay Council was going to look very different after election night,” poll-topper Morin told Decafnation. “It’s clear from the numbers that progressive values still dominant Courtenay. The majority of voters endorsed the direction of the outgoing council.

“But the balance is there for those with opposing views. It will be an interesting 4 years.”

COMOX

In Comox, it appears that four newcomers filing at the last minute caught the Old Block majority off guard. Expecting little competition and maybe several acclamations, the Old Block wasn’t prepared for the well-organized machine that boosted Dr. Jonathan Kerr and Jenn Meilleur into office in 2022.

And it resulted in a clean sweep this time.

“This is a historic night for Comox and it is a victory for all Comox residents who have said that they want a Comox Council that listens to them,” Kerr told Decafnation last night. Kerr topped the polls again with 81.3 percent of the vote.

Former Green Party federal candidate Jessica Wegg came next with 69 percent, followed by Jenn Meilleur, Lisa Bourgeois, Neil Ladell and Vivian Chislett.

Incumbent Chris Haslett was the top vote-getter from the Old Block, but he wasn’t close to making the cut. He trailed Chislett by 777 votes. Chislett had 51.8 percent to Haslett’s 34.8 percent. Ken Grant had 32.9 percent, Steve Blacklock had 31.1 percent and Maureen Swift finished last of the Old Block at 30.4 percent.

The total votes cast went up by 703 votes over 2022 and the turnout jumped from 29.2 percent to 36.4 percent this year.

“I am so excited for the Town of Comox and where the next four years will take us,” Wegg told Decafnation. “We can make Comox a fun place for people of all ages.”

It’s clear that Comox residents did not like the process for updating the town’s Official Community Plan and felt their feedback at two overflowing public hearings wasn’t taken seriously. The prospect of six-storey buildings lining Comox Avenue may not have appealed to residents.

Voters were also motivated by several proposed large developments that triggered the formation of neighborhood associations.

“Congrats to all of the Comox residents in their neighbourhoods who knocked on doors, shared information about the election,” Vivian Chislett told Decafnation. “It was democracy in action.”

Ladell agreed. “I really want to thank the community for putting their trust in me. It is the community’s voice that matters, and I am committed to that over the next four years,” he told Decafnation.   

“I’m genuinely grateful for the trust and support residents have shown us,” Bourgeois told Decafnation. “One of the best parts of this campaign has been meeting so many people, listening to their concerns and hearing their hopes for Comox. I’m excited about the opportunity to work alongside my fellow councillors, bring fresh perspectives to the table and continue those conversations. There’s a lot of work ahead, but tonight I’m feeling incredibly grateful and optimistic about what’s possible when we work together.”

This morning, Jenn Meilleur added her thoughts. “I’m feeling an enormous sense of gratitude and hope! Throughout this campaign, we met so many people who care deeply about Comox, have wonderful ideas for its future and truly want to be part of building what comes next. I think these results reflect a real appetite for a different kind of local governance that’s more collaborative, open to community participation, and willing to think creatively about our future.”

CUMBERLAND

Incumbents Nick Ward, Troy Therrien and Sean Sullivan were elected along with newcomer Ellian Bell. Incumbent Neil Borecky lost his seat, finishing with 618 votes.

Ward topped the polls with 1,049, followed by Troy Therrien with 936 and Ellian Bell with 848. Sullivan made the cut with 742 by 75 votes over fifth place Kevin Snaden. Ward won his seat in a by-election when former councillor Jesse Ketler stepped down.

Mayor Vickey Brown was unopposed and won by acclamation.

“Many thanks to all of the candidates for putting their name forward. Its so nice to have experienced councillors and another woman,” Mayor Brown told Decafnation. “Thank you Cumberland.”

Of the 3,480 eligible voters in the village, 1,492 cast a ballot, or 42.9 percent. That’s up one full percentage point over the 2022 election.

“Cumberland is a very intelligent community. They showed up and voted in a diverse and very capable and succinct council,” Sullivan told Decafnation. “The future is bright, as it always is in Cumberland.”  

ELECTORAL AREA B

After losing by 23 votes in 2022, Arzeena Hamir came back this year to challenge incumbent Richard Hardy and beat him handily 1,156 to 694 votes. Or, 62.5 percent of the vote to Hardy’s 37.5 percent.

“It’s great to be back,” Hamir told Decafnation last night. “I’m so looking forward to ensuring Area B has a strong voice both at the RD table and in working with Comox.”  

ELECTORAL AREA C

The race for Electoral Area C was thrown wide-open when 18-year veteran Edwin Grieve decided to retire. That left Ariel Becherer, Gillian Anderson and Normal McPhail to win over Merville and Black Creek voters.

McPhail, a retired RCMP superintendent, won the seat by 86 votes, 1,020 to 934 for second-place finished Ariel Becherer. McPhail had 45.9 percent of the vote, compared to Becherer’s 42 percent. Gillian Anderson finished with 270 votes.  

SCHOOL TRUSTEE

The only race for the School District 71 Board of Trustees this year occurred in Courtenay, where incumbent Shannon Aldinger, Kendall Packham and Maria Sanchez sought the two seats. Sanchez ran on the anti-vaxx, anti-SOGI platform.

Aldinger topped the polls at 4,940 and Packham finished well ahead of the challenger with 3,311. Sanchez missed the cut by 902 votes.