Barnes wins handily in Harbour Grace by-election

By Mark Squibb/December 9, 2022

Former Harbour Grace mayor Terry Barnes will sit at the council table once more after winning this week’s municipal by-election.

Barnes, along with Sonia Williams, Kathy Tetford, and Kevin Williams, were all vying for a spot left vacant by former councillor Sharon Reynolds.

Barnes claimed 421 votes, while his three competitors earned a combined 326 votes.

Mayor Don Coombs said he’s looking forward to welcoming Barnes at the council chamber.

“I worked with Terry from ’09 to ’13, he was my deputy mayor, and he’s got a lot of great ideas,” said Coombs. “I’m looking forward to meeting with him and bringing him up to date on the files. He’s a hard worker for the town, he’s very passionate, and I’m sure he will be extremely pleased with our strategic plan and where we are going. It’s exciting for him and exciting for us to have him as a part of the team.”

Barnes served as mayor from 2013 until 2017, when he was defeated by Coombs. He also ran for mayor last year in the general municipal election, but again lost to Coombs, who is one of the longest serving mayors in the province, aside from a single term when he lost the top job to Barnes in 2013.

Last week, The Shoreline, in an article titled ‘Veterans vie for Harbour Grace seat,’ incorrectly stated that Terry Barnes served as deputy mayor from 2013 to 2016 and as mayor from 2017 until 2020.

“I’d like to thank all four candidates for putting their name forward,” noted Coombs. “Either one of the candidates would have been a good selection.”