Paradise sets date for town by-election

By Mark Squibb   |   Vol. 31 No. 49 (February 21 2019)

Paradise council has decided to wait until May to fill the seat left vacant by the departure of former councillor Paul Dinn.

Dinn resigned this month following his successful candidacy in the Topsail-Paradise District provincial by-election, where he was elected as the new PC member for the area.

Council unanimously voted Tuesday to hold its by-election on Thursday, May. 9 with an advance poll scheduled for Saturday, May 4. Council also voted unanimously for April 11 to be nomination day.

Deputy Mayor and Finance committee chairperson Elizabeth Laurie encouraged residents to offer themselves for service.

“Yes, there are challenges, but I encourage anyone to put their names forward,” said Laurie, who noted she has already been approached by a number of people who want to run.

Coreen Bennett, who at 1,761 votes had the highest number of ballots among the 10 unsuccessful candidates in the Town’s 2017 municipal election, indicated to The Shoreline that she is interested in running again.