Town of Stettler voters re-elected three incumbent councillors and three newcomers in the municipal election Monday.
Malcolm Fischer topped the polls for the second successive election, with 905 votes, while Al Campbell received 740 and incumbent Darcy Bachman secured the final seat with 533.
Will Brown led the way for newcomers with 609 votes, followed by Karen Sernecky with 575 and Sean Nolls with 537.
New faces on council expressed satisfaction with their victories.
“I’m very excited to serve our community and thank the voters for their faith they put in me,” said Brown, 39, the lead pastor of Stettler Community Church.
Since he fell short in his bid for mayor in the 2010 election, Brown has served on town committees, such as treasurer of the library board, along with beautification, heritage and police advisory committees.
“I believe voters appreciate my commitment to the community,” he said.
Brown believes that a council with half newcomers and incumbents will be healthy.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to serve on council — I’m just so overwhelmed,” said Sernecky, 32, and a mother.
“I can’t wait to show people what I can do. I think people voted for me because they saw I’m dedicated to the town.”
As a business owner, Nolls, 35, said he’s also eager to serve the town.
“I’m not sure what helped me get elected, maybe because I’m a public figure on a day-day-to day basis, and it’s nice to see a new familiar face,” said Nolls, who runs Sean’s No Frills.
He acknowledged that Brown was a strong candidate for councillor.
“Will is a man of the people for who he is and what he does in the community,” Nolls said.
Out of contention, incumbent Steven Wildeboer managed 469, followed by Wayne Tebbe (329), James (Jim) Smith (323), Zachary Jackson (309) and incumbent Peter Simons (307).
Simons was doubly defeated when he also finished last in a three-way race for two Stettler seats on the Clearview School Division.
The show goes on with a new slate for the next four years.
“It’s exciting to have half of council with new faces with fresh ideas on council with experienced incumbents,” said Mayor Dick Richards, who was acclaimed as mayor, a post he has held for the past four years.
Richards welcomes the new council with what he hopes is a drive to continue to move the town forward.
“I personally congratulated all the winners and I look forward to working with them,” Richards said.
“I also thanked Peter and Steve for their dedicated service on council.”
Voter turnout was about 26.15 per cent, down from 29.5 per cent in the 2010 election which included a race for mayor.
Town council stages its organizational meeting next Friday (Nov. 1) at noon.