Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore won a second term in the city's top job after decisively defeating challengers William Issa and Patrick Alambets during Saturday night's civic election.
The results showed Moore leading in every poll with a total of 5,827 votes, followed by Issa with 1,691 and Alambets with 310.
"I am honoured by the support I received," Moore told The Tri-City News shortly after the results were posted to the city website. "I am looking forward to having a couple of good nights sleep because I haven't had one in a while."
He said the election results validated his and council's work, and are an endorsement of his platform for the upcoming term. Moore added that he and council will take much of what they heard on the doorsteps during the campaign to formulate their plans for the next three years.
Issa may have come up well short in the vote count but he said he was proud of the work he did and the issues he raised over the campaign. "We didn't win but it is not all about winning," he said, ruling out a future mayoral run. "It is about getting to the end and standing up for the community and I think we did that."
Most incumbents faired well in Saturday's results, with Coun. Brad West topping the polls with 5,219 votes. He was followed by councillors Darrell Penner (4,493), Mike Forrest (4,219), Glenn Pollock (3,718) and Michael Wright (3,361).
Said West: "To get re-elected and top the polls is a nice little extra."
But while most incumbents held on to their seats on Saturday, there will be one new face on council when the new term begins. Dean Washington edged Coun. Sherry Carroll for the sixth and final spot with 2,802 votes to her 2,657. Carroll's loss means there will be no female representation on the next council.
"I feel bad for Sherry," Moore said. "She was probably one of our hardest working city councillors. She spent a lot of time going to events and participating at city hall."
It is not the first time Port Coquitlam has lacked female representation, said Coun. Michael Wright, the longest-serving member of council. He said he was disappointed that residents chose not to elect a woman but he noted that out of the 18 people seeking council seats in the election, Carroll was the only woman.
The current council will meet for the last time on Nov. 27 before the new group is sworn in next month.
THE RESULTS
A bullet [ ] denotes incumbent):
MAYOR
Greg Moore - 5,827
William Issa - 1,691
Patrick Alambets - 310
COUNCIL
Brad West - 5,219
Darrell Penner - 4,493
Mike Forrest - 4,219
Glenn Pollock - 3,718
Michael Wright - 3,361
Dean Washington - 2,802
Sherry Carroll - 2,657
Michael Thomas - 2,385
Darin Nielsen - 2,323
Jamie Arden - 1,539
Lih-Ming Tam - 1,505
Todd Delaurier - 1,341
Chris Carr - 1,286
Ron McKinnon - 1,065
Derek Kootte - 970
Eric Hirvonen - 738
Leigh Morrison - 638
Les Robson - 536
