Kings County Deputy Warden Diana Brothers.
Kirk Starratt
Councillors re-elect Brothers Deputy Warden
BY KIRK STARRATT
kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca
NovaNewsNow.com
Although she wasn’t elected warden Tuesday night, councillor Diana Brothers has been selected deputy warden once again by her peers.
The election was held following the swearing-in of the new incarnation of council and the election of a warden from council’s ranks at the Tuesday, Nov. 4 session. Councillor Fred Whalen was re-elected warden over Brothers, who was the only other candidate in that race.
Councillor Jim Taylor nominated councillor John Fuller for deputy warden and councillor Janet Newton nominated Brothers. They were the only nominees and both accepted. The candidates were each permitted to make a few comments in the order they were nominated prior to the vote.
Fuller said he welcomed the opportunity to offer his services as deputy warden and pointed out he is well suited for the position.
“It’s important the warden and deputy warden work as a team,” he said. “I welcome the role.”
Fuller said he has served on and chaired several municipal, inter-municipal and community committees. In his private life, for example, he chairs the board of Just Us! Coffee co-operative and he had a successful career working for the province, including his time with the assessment department.
Brothers said she works well with the warden now. They have different demeanours, but represent different perspectives.
“Working together as a team is one of my skills,” she said, pointing out she has probably served on or chaired every municipal committee at one point or another and she would like to see the audit committee become more active. “I have never excluded anyone around the horseshoe.”
Brothers said she would like to have former councillor Merrill Ward serve as her scrutineer, just as he had for the warden election. Fuller declined the opportunity to have a scrutineer. Municipal solicitor Don Urquhart and Corporate Services director Bill McKennan acted as scrutineers on behalf of the municipality.
Brothers won the election and a motion carried to have the ballots destroyed.