West Hants council split down the middle for fall election

The nominations are in for the Oct. 18, 2008, Municipal Election, and it looks like West Hants is split down the middle between those seats that remain up for grabs and those incumbents already sitting pretty.

Out of nine electoral districts in the municipality, five have gone uncontested. Couns. Reed Allen, Shirley Pineo, Randy Matheson, Tom Brown, and Gary Cochrane are elected by acclamation -- leaving four districts contested and 10 candidates vying for those seats at council.

The district of Three Mile Plains will pit current municipal Warden Richard Dauphinee and Garth Hazel as candidates.

In the Three Mile Plains-Martock district, Coun. Gloria Shanks will be challenged for the first time by nominee Moria Ducharme.

Recent municipal boundary changes had resulted in a new district for Falmouth. Pam Ainslie, Richard Armstrong and Sherry Smith are the candidates for that riding. This leaves Upper Falmouth and Mount Denson being contested by Coun. Rick Gaudet, Fred Lawrence and Dallas Moore. Coun. Anne MacDonald incumbent for that district declined a nomination for the upcoming election, noting she plans to “step down gracefully.

“I've certainly learned a lot as councillor and wouldn't have given up that experience for anything.” MacDonald said. “I've done my four years. and now its time to give someone else that opportunity.”

The following is a complete list of candidates for the Municipality of West Hants:

District #1 (Summerville-Kempt)

Reed Allen - Elected by acclamation

District #2 (Avondale-Burlington)

Shirley Pineo - Elected by acclamation

District #3 (Brooklyn- Scotch Village)

Randy Matheson - Elected by acclamation

District #4 (Ste. Croix-Ellershouse-Newport Corner)

Tom Brown - Elected by acclamation

District #5 (Wentworth-Newport Station-Newport Corner)

Gary Cochrane - Elected by acclamation

District #6 (Three Mile Plains)

Richard Dauphinee

Garth Hazel

District #7 (Three Mile Plains-Martock)

Gloria Shanks

Moria Ducharme

District #8 (Upper Falmouth-Mount Denson)

Rick Gaudet

Fred Lawrence

Dallas Moore

District #9 (Falmouth)

Pam Ainslie

Richard Armstrong

Sherry Smith