For Bent, acclamation means he has to keep on keeping on

By Craig Westcott

CBS Mayor Darrin Bent isn’t taking his acclamation as a sign that all voters are happy with him, but rather as a renewal of his contract to carry on for another four years looking out for the town’s reputation and interests.
Bent was unopposed for mayor when the Call for Nominations closed last week, a contrast to his first run for mayor in 2021 when three other candidates vied for the position. The last time a CBS mayor was acclaimed was in 2017 when former MHA Terry French won the post. Bent was also acclaimed that year as the council representative in Ward 1.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to serve Conception Bay South as mayor over the past four years and I’m honoured to be able to continue in that role for the next four years,” Bent said last week. “I look forward to continuing the work to help advance the town, to ensure that the town is given proper consideration by all levels of government when it comes to needs, and to ensure that the reputation of the town is held in high regard, because it’s important for residential development and attraction for residents and commercial entities to help build the town into the future.”
Bent’s first term as mayor was marked at the start by the challenges posed to public services by the Covid 19 pandemic and in the last couple of months by the threat of wildfires on both sides of CBS and then a major watermain break causing a state of emergency. In between there were debates and decisions about a big industrial development by Ocean Choice International in Long Pond Harbour, along with physical changes to the harbour itself, the approval of a $16 million inflatable dome for a new recreation centre in the Gateway, and a proposed loosening of the town’s development regulations to allow for more multi-unit housing. All three issues generated discussion in the community, but without any suggestion of scandal or public disaffection, and without, apparently, any hook for a challenger upon which to hang a hat.
“You never know with these things, of course,” said Bent. “And I didn’t take anything for granted, I was fully prepared (to campaign for the job). People have said you get a sense of relief (when you’re acclaimed) and it’s not really that it’s a relief, because nothing changes. But I am pleased that I’ve been acclaimed. And I’ve got to say that I’ve been working with a really good council for the past four years and I think some of that has to do with that council. But yet, I look forward to working with the new council after October 2 and the things that we can accomplish for the town.”
Bent is disappointed though with the timing of the provincial election which he thinks will hurt municipal candidates.
“The provincial election is going to happen it seems right on top of it and to me that’s something that should never happen,” Bent said.
Provincial and federal elections get more play in the media than do municipal elections, he explained, where the candidates have to fight harder for attention.
“It’s difficult in a municipal situation to be going door to door at the same time as the provincial people are going door to door,” Bent said. “It may be difficult for them as well. But it’s certainly difficult for the municipal level. Last time, four years ago, the federal election was on top of it and people voted (federally) a couple of weeks ahead of the municipal election and you’re knocking on doors and you’re telling people you’ve got to vote again, and they’re telling you, ‘I’ve already voted.’ And because you don’t get the same media play, not everyone is fully aware of what may be happening municipally. They need to be separated in the future; this needs to be looked at. There’s no blame in this; it just needs to be looked at so that they don’t fall on top of each other.”
As for the term ahead, Bent appears focused on getting a fairer share of provincial capital works funding and federal money for infrastructure projects.
“And we need to keep working with the people who are in the positions of power, whether it’s the provincial government or the federal government, to ensure that that happens,” Bent added. “And it needs to happen…. Regardless, no matter who holds the purse strings we have to work with them to the best advantage we can for Conception Bay South residents.”