TIDNISH – After six terms in municipal office Cumberland County Warden Keith Hunter has decided he will seek a seventh when voters go to the polls in this fall’s municipal elections.
Hunter, who was first elected in 1991, will be reoffering in District 3. If successful in October’s municipal vote, he will let his name stand again for warden in November.
“I feel that I have some unfinished business in a number of initiatives and projects that I’d like to see completed,” Hunter said. “I enjoy doing what I’m doing and there’s still lots left to be done. Everyone says that, but it’s true. We’re just getting started on the Pugwash master plan and the Maccan water and sewer projects are just a couple of things I’d like to see completed.”
The Tidnish resident was elected deputy warden in 1998 and became warden in 2000.
Hunter ran Jerry’s Supermarket in Amherst between 1969 and 2006 and has been active in various community agencies and organizations including the Athol Forestry Co-op, Nova Scotia Municipal Finance Corporation, the Central Nova Tourist Association, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Cumberland Joint Services Management Authority.
He is presently on the board of directors with the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities and has served as the rural caucus chair of that organization since 2008.
Hunter has also been on the board at the Sunset Adult Residential Centre and the North Tyndal Wellfield Advisory Committee.
Looking ahead, Hunter sees the county becoming a hub of green energy. The county is working with the towns of Springhill and Parrsboro to develop and attract wind, solar, tidal and geothermal energy projects.
“If we can offer a lower power rate to businesses coming into Cumberland County by using green energy we could make this an attractive place to start or maintain a business,” the warden said.
