As the deadline for 2010 municipal election is near we take a look back at the last Temiskaming municipal election

by Speaker Editor
Gordon Brock
DISTRICT — On an overcast November 13, 2006 day that featured periodic drizzling rain and temperatures hovering over the freezing point, Temiskaming residents turned out in various degrees of enthusiasm to elect the first four-year term ever for Ontario municipalities.
The voter turnout ranged from a high of 65 per cent in Latchford to a low of 27 per cent in Harley.
For some of Temiskaming’s municipalities these elections were deemed “watershed” elections as the races were deemed emotional with many believing the community had reached a political crossroads. The City of Temiskaming Shores and the Town of Latchford were two such municipalities that fell under this category.
TEMISKAMING SHORES
In Temiskaming Shores Judy Pace won a decisive victory in the mayoralty race over city councillor Danny Whalen, and challengers Bob Jonkman and Eveline Gauvreau.
However if the message was a vote for a change of style in the city, it was also a mixed message in that all three incumbent councillors were re-elected. Yet newcomers Mike McArthur and Mike Pearson won overwhelming mandates respectively finishing the polls in first and second place.
LATCHFORD
Despite the acrimony that’s characterized Latchford politics from 2003 to 2006,the incumbents were re-elected and voter turnout dropped from 84 per cent in 2003 to 65 per cent in 2006.
CLOSE ELECTIONS
There were some close elections. Notably in Coleman Township where incumbent mayor Colleen Belanger narrowly defeated challenger Dan Cleroux by four votes.
In Latchford Township Bill Lingenfelter received 124 votes for the sixth and final position on council edging Maxine Cannon Gates by one vote. A recount was held that night and preserved Mr. Lingenfelter’s victory.
In Hudson Township the last council position also was decided by one vote when challenger Bryan McNair edged incumbent councillor Martin Jarvis by a 121 votes to a 120 votes margin.
ACCLAIMED
The following councils were acclaimed: Casey, Charlton-Dack, Evanturel, Harris, Hilliard, Kerns and Thornloe.
Heads of those acclaimed councils that are returning are Guy Labonté in Casey, Jack Briggs in Evanturel, Martin Auger in Harris, Morgan Carson in Hilliard, Terry Phillips in Kerns, and Ron Vottero in Thornloe.
The only new acclaimed head of council from this group is Al Fraser in Charlton-Dack.
HEADS ACCLAIMED
Five other municipalities had the mayors’ or reeves’ race acclaimed but had races for the council seats. Those municipalities were Armstrong, Englehart, Harley, Hudson and James.
The veteran heads of those councils who were acclaimed include Jules Gravel in Armstrong, Nina Wallace in Englehart, Gerald Roy in Harley, Terry Fiset in James.
The only new acclaimed head of council from this group was Larry Craig in Hudson.
WINNING REELECTION
Winning reelection were Andre Belanger in Cobalt,Colleen Belanger in Coleman and Peter Davies in Latchford.
NEWLY ELECTED HEADS
Newly elected heads of council were Maurice Chabot in Brethour, Ike Laba in Temagami and Judy Pace in Temiskaming Shores.
INCUMBENT LOST
The only incumbent head of a council to go down to defeat was Don Anderson in Chamberlain Township. However challenger Bill Dickinson had served as Chamberlain reeve before and wasn’t considered new in the job.
NO PLEBISCITES
There were no plebiscites on any of the municipal ballots this time.
SCHOOL BOARDS
Perhaps the most notable aspect of the school boards occurred on the English public side where 21-year veteran Juergen Leukert was again re-elected. It turned out thought that was Mr. Leukert’s last election in school board politics. Early in 2010 he announced he would not be seeking re-election.