The tables have turned in Montrose, where a new mayor has been selected, according to preliminary results released by the village.
Former councillor Joe Danchuk won over village residents with 175 votes with Mayor Griff Welsh less than 50 votes behind him at 128 followed by Ron Pylypuik in a distant third.
“I’m over it now, I was kind of shocked,” said Welsh, who has been in municipal politics for nine years, acting as mayor for the last three. “I thought I’d do better than I did, but hey that’s the name of the game. Life goes on, my wife is happy.”
Danchuk is elated to be selected to lead the team on council.
“I think just looking at me getting in, the new school trustees in our area and the shakeup in Trail, with three new councillors, I think that voters are saying, ‘It’s time for change and let’s move ahead,’” said Danchuk, whose priority is to get the village’s water quality up to snuff.
Welsh wishes Danchuk the best of luck and doesn’t plan on running for election next term but said time will tell whether he’ll stay out of municipal politics for good.
Nearly 350 Montrose residents made it out to the polls of the approximate 800 eligible voters, the highest voter turnout percentage in the region.