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VIDEO: Nathan Pachal wins 91原创 City mayoralty race

Mayor-elect will be working with a council of half incumbents and half newcomers
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Nathan Pachal, the newly-elected mayor of 91原创 City, was celebrating with supporters Saturday night, Oct 15. (Dan Ferguson/91原创 Advance Times)

91原创 City mayor-elect Nathan Pachal is promising a more collaborative approach to government.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to working together with everyone in a good way,鈥 Pachal told the 91原创 Advance Times Saturday night, Oct. 15, after he defeated incumbent Mayor Val van den Broek 2,434 to 1,290, taking 64 per cent of the ballots cast.

Pachal promised to 鈥渇igure out the things where there鈥檚 common ground,鈥 listing the imminent arrival of SkyTrain as one of the biggest challenges the City faces.

On social media, he thanked voters for putting their trust in him.

Mayor van den Broek, who was dealing with a family emergency, could not be reached for comment immediately after the results.

Pachal will be working with a council of three incumbents 鈥 Paul Albrecht, Rosemary Wallace, and Teri James 鈥 and three fresh faces 鈥 Mike Solyom, Leith White and Delaney Mack.

Albrecht topped the council polls with 1,905 votes, or 50 per cent of all ballots.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to the next four years with a leader we can all support,鈥 Albrecht said, describing himself as 鈥渉umbled鈥 by the support he received.

READ ALSO: 91原创 City elects Nathan Pachal mayor

Newcomer Mike Solyom, who was second in the polling for councillors with 1,659 votes or 44 per cent of ballots cast, was 鈥減leasantly surprised鈥 by his success on his second try for council. He said Pachal had helped him by providing advice about how to run an effective campaign.

Solyom called the turnout 鈥渟hockingly low,鈥 given there were 30,000 eligible voters in 91原创 City.

Incumbent councillor Rosemary Wallace, third with 1,638 votes or 43 per cent, was at Pachal鈥檚 election night event, and noted that the mayor-elect delayed celebrating his win, until all the results for the rest of council were in.

Wallace, who has been dealing with a severe hip injury that prevented her from door-to-door campaigning, was 鈥済rateful鈥 for the support.

She praised Pachal for bringing an 鈥渋nclusive鈥 approach to council.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to moving forward,鈥 Wallace commented.

Incumbent Teri James, fourth with 1,615 votes or 43 per cent, was looking forward to a Pachal mayoralty, saying 鈥淚 am excited to work with a cohesive council who will get things done.鈥

鈥淚鈥檓 honestly looking at the next four years with optimism,鈥 James said.

READ ALSO: 91原创 Township: Eric Woodward declared mayor

Fifth-place councillor-elect Leith White (1,524 votes or 40 per cent) said he was 鈥渉onoured by [the] people鈥檚 vote of confidence, as we all should be, and will work to return that in full and more.鈥

He added there was much to do in the days ahead. 鈥淢y first platform commitment was to work towards effective leadership and I鈥檓 fully committed to that. The sprint is finished. Now the marathon.鈥

Sixth-place Delaney Mack (1,416 votes or 38 per cent), who won her first time out, said she ran 鈥渢o be the change I wanted to see.鈥

鈥淚鈥檓 honoured, I鈥檓 humbled, I鈥檓 happy overall,鈥 Mack said.

Mack promised to 鈥渉ave an open ear for everyone,鈥 adding she hoped 鈥渢he community will move forward in a unified way and work together.鈥

Both White and Mack were endorsed by van den Broek.

Incumbents Rudy Storteboom and Gayle Martin will not be returning, and both doubted they will be running again.

Storteboom noted he has the 鈥渄ubious distinction鈥 of having lost three City elections, perhaps the most of any council member in City history, and it was 鈥渘ot likely鈥 he would try again.

鈥淸Voters] have delivered my retirement,鈥 Storteboom remarked.

鈥淗e thanked his 鈥渇amily, friends, supporters and voters,鈥 even those who didn鈥檛 vote for him, because they exercised their democratic rights.

Martin expects she will remain active in the community, but not as a councillor.

鈥淚鈥檝e had 32 good years,鈥滿artin said.

鈥滻鈥檓 proud of what I鈥檝e accomplished over that time.鈥

Both Martin and Storteboom said they were happy that Pachal had won.

READ ALSO: Contract with 91原创 takes three seats on school board


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Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I鈥檓 the guy you鈥檒l often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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