Falling short in a bid to retain his seats on Stettler town council and Clearview school board in elections last week, Peter Simons says he has simply accepted the results and plans to “move on” with his life.
“I respect the election process and voters did what they felt was best for the community, and I respect their choices,” said Simons, who finished last of the 11 candidates for councillor in the Town of Stettler and last of the three candidates in the Stettler ward for the Clearview School Division.
In the previous election in 2010, he grabbed the sixth and final seat on council, just 12 votes ahead of seventh place and second in a bid for two seats.
“I’m not really interested in analyzing the results,” Simons said.
He said he was proud of his time in service on both council and school board.
“In my terms, as councillor and trustee, I did what was best for residents and I don’t regret anything I did.”
Now, he has given his blessing to the new council and school board.
“I wish the new council and school board all the best in the new term,” Simons said.
Also in the running for two local seats, John Schofer won and lost at the polls last week.
He reclaimed his seat on the Clearview school board for Byemoor-Botha when he beat Rhonda Maginn, while finishing third in County of Stettler for Byemoor-Botha. Les Stulberg won that seat.
“The people spoke and you win some, you lose some,” said Schofer, who served on the school board for 12 years before he was unseated in the 2010 election.
Despite his loss in the county race, he’s confident in the new councillor.
“I do believe Les will do a good job for the area and county,” Schofer said.
Back on the school board, he’s eager to get to work.
“I look forward to working with the new board and help keep our small rural schools strong,” Schofer said. “I was first asked to run for school board to have a strong voice for rural schools, and then I was approached to run for county council.”
County and town councils and Clearview school board will be sworn in by the end of this week.