Barnes hoping to use new term to help Harbour Grace move ahead

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

He’s had more mayoral rematches than some heavyweight boxers have had title bouts, but Harbour Grace Mayor Terry Barnes says he bears no ill will towards his main contender, former mayor Don Coombs.
The two have seesawed in and out of the mayor’s chair over the years making them easily the two most prominent politicians in Harbour Grace. This time around, it was Barnes who won, beating Coombs with a vote of 720-656.

“I’d just like to thank the residents of the town of Harbour Grace for giving me the opportunity to hopefully bring the town forward in the next four years,” said Barnes. “I do my darnedest in doing this. And there’s a good body of council behind me also.”

Barnes said he is not saying anything negative about the former council or former mayor Coombs.
“He did his job, he did his time,” said Barnes. “The people spoke, and that’s where I’m to today.”

Barnes has lived in Harbour Grace for 45 years, having moved there when he was 15 years old. “Not born in Harbour Grace, but Harbour Grace is my hometown,” he said.

Barnes’s wife Patsy is from Harbour Grace, and they have three children, two of whom live in Harbour Grace with their families. Barnes works for the Barry Group, one of the largest seafood companies in Newfoundland, and has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for about 25 years. His father was a member of the Legion, his grandfather was in the merchant navy, and he has various relatives who served in the armed forces.

About 15 years ago, Barnes ran in his first municipal election and served as deputy mayor of Harbour Grace. He decided to run for mayor in the 2013 election, beating incumbent Mayor Coombs for the position. In 2017 Barnes ran for re-election as mayor, but was defeated by Coombs.

“Don came out on top, which was great,” said Barnes. “And I will tell you, I was the first man to his door and walked into his house to congratulate the man.”

After the 2017 election, Barnes said, he had no plans to run again due to a busy work schedule. “But, when you like your town, love your town, you want to help out any way you can,” he said. After Councillor Sharon Reynolds stepped away in 2022, a by-election was called. Four candidates put their names forward, including Barnes, who found himself back on council.

Barnes decided he would run for mayor once again. In October, he did just that and was successful. He acknowledged it was a close race between himself and Coombs.

“The two of us do have followers in town, the two of us are well-liked in town,” said Barnes. “It’s just that they put me back in the chair for the next four years to see what I can do.”

For this election, while he had some people who campaigned for him, Barnes did not personally knock on doors, nor did he reach out to people and ask for their vote.

“I’m not that type of fellow,” he said. “I feel that if you want to vote for me, you will vote for me. I’m not going around asking people to vote… People know who I am. People know that I’m very outgoing, I’m very generous. I do a lot for people behind the scenes that people don’t know. I’m not a fellow who looks for a pat on the back for anything.”

Barnes said he is prepared to work with the new council to make things happen.

“I’d like to see the town move ahead,” he said. “I’d like to see more business coming to the town.”