ADVOCATE HARBOUR – Don Fletcher is the new Cumberland municipal councillor for District 10.
Fletcher received 193 votes during a byelection to claim the council seat vacated by the death of longtime councillor Ratchford Merriam in the fall.
“I’m very happy and pleased that the voters have shown their faith in me,” Fletcher said Saturday night. “We had five great candidates running for the seat and I’d like to think all the work I’ve done in the community since coming back 15 years ago paid off.”
Fletcher said he’s anxious to meet his fellow councillors and start to work at the county council table. He said there are a number of issues residents want some action on including local health care.
“When I came back to the community we had a hospital and a doctor. Today, there is a nurse practitioner who’s here three times a week and eight long-term care beds that will soon be 10 after the swing bed and palliative care bed are taken away.”
Fletcher, a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, has been active with the Cape Chignecto park, the hospital board, the Advocate development association and the school.
Susan Clarke, who lives in Advocate Harbour and manages the Ottawa House Museum in Parrsboro, picked up 139 votes to place second while Oralee Collins-O’Byrne was third with 123 votes. John Melanson received 55 votes and Greg Morris had 50.
“I’d like to congratulate Don and thank everyone who nominated and supported me,” Clarke said. “It was a good run.”
Clarke said she really enjoyed going around the district knocking on doors and talking to voters. She hopes to do it again sometime and hasn’t ruled out running in 2016.
She believes Fletcher will do a good job representing District 10.
Twitter: @ADNdarrell
