Most Victoria candidates say they are hoping for a council that gets along

By Olivia Bradbury, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The disbanding of Victoria council last winter didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of people looking to serve: sixteen candidates are on the ballot for the May 14 election, many of them civil servants or retired civil servants, keeping up the town’s tendency over the years to garner a large slate.

The Shoreline attempted to reach all of them, but only nine made themselves available by press time.

Among them was David Clarke, who served in the military and worked for the federal government in Ottawa before retiring and moving back to his family’s hometown. He ran for council in 2025, losing by a narrow margin.

“When we moved here it was great, but we started seeing a few issues around town that I thought I could address,” Clarke said.

If elected, Clarke said he will prioritize the Town providing an equal quality of services for all residents. He would also focus on public safety and wildfire prevention. Clarke said his experience in the military and government taught him leadership skills he can bring to council.

For semi-retired personal care assistant Shelley Dawe, this is her second time running. She served on the 2025 council that was dismissed in December.

“I would love the opportunity to be re-elected so we can actually get down to doing business for our town,” she said. “Our town deserves more than what it got last time.”

If re-elected, Dawe said, she will focus on water and sewer, home construction, business development, ATV trails, fire protection, heritage society funding, and support for recreation. Dawe said she brings honesty, respect, and transparency to the table, and a strong voice that will make her a good advocate for the town. She added the new council needs to respect the residents’ votes and work together civilly.

David Doran, a paramedic at Carbonear General Hospital, is running for the first time.

“I just wanted to throw my hat in the ring to see if I could try to help better the town,” he said.

Doran’s priorities are upgrading water and sewer infrastructure, establishing a road for ATVs, and working with the fire department on emergency preparedness and prevention. Doran said he has always gone out of his way to help people. “That’s what I want to try and continue doing with the town,” he said.

Jim Layden, a pipefitter and volunteer firefighter for 44 years has run twice before. He served on council from 2021-2025 term and was elected again last fall.

Doran said Victoria’s aged infrastructure motivated him to run; he said with his background, he can help the Town improve it. He has suggested a plan of action to address water supply and quality issues replacing ductile iron pipes with plastic ones. “It’s a lot cleaner, and it’s a lot healthier,” he said.

Doran would also like to see a road dedicated to ATVs, and more streetlights around town to give residents a greater sense of safety.

Kelly Loch, a teacher and vice principal of Persalvic School, served on council from 2013-2021. She ran for mayor in 2021 but lost. In 2025 she was elected to council again but was dismissed with the rest of the group. Loch said she would like to prioritize communication and education. Specifically, she would like to educate people on how town councils run and the roles and responsibilities of town staff, councillors, and mayor. She also wants to focus on providing good services to residents and improving infrastructure. Loch said her background as a teacher has given her experience in running meetings, compromising, and conflict resolution.

This is the first stab at council for retired special education teacher Sharon Penney. She is past president of the Retired Teachers’ Association. Penney said the administrator who ran the town in council’s absence revitalized Victoria’s policies and procedures.

“As a council, we need to be focused on implementing those changes, his recommendations, and see where that takes us, because part of his mandate was to make everything run smoothly,” she said.

Penney added her experience in various organizations has taught her to work collaboratively, and that she would help build consensus among councillors if elected.

Lynnette (Clarke) Ross, a support worker at Carbonear General Hospital, made her first try at council in 2021. She didn’t make it that time but didn’t lose interest. The co-chairperson of the hospital’s occupational health and safety committee said she likes working as part of a group to solve problems.

“I’ve come to realize that I have a niche,” Ross said. “I like to be able to bring people together, get resolution, get things done.”

Ross said she will focus on upgrading roads and a playground, if elected, and lobby for sidewalks. Victoria has been getting a bad name, she added, and as someone who loves the town where she has lived for 60 years, she would like to help rectify that.

Anneliese Snook, a nurse manager at Carbonear General Hospital said she is running because she cares about the community’s future and believes it’s time for a fresh perspective and new voices at the table.

“I feel that, as a nurse manager, I’ve developed strong leadership and communication skills that I think would be qualities that I could bring to the council,” Snook said, adding her job has taught her to listen carefully, stay calm under pressure, and focus on practical solutions. She would like to focus on supporting local businesses, improving infrastructure, supporting the fire department and prioritizing wildfire prevention.

Irene Stevenson, who is retired from Workplace NL, ran for council in 2025, but didn’t make it over the top. The situation in town, particularly with council, motivated her to run so she could try to make changes, she said.

“There’s issues going on and there’s bickering going on between people, councillors, and I don’t think it’s the right place for it,” Stevenson said.

Victoria is also facing safety issues and crime that needs to be addressed, she said.

“Our town needs to be put back the way it was to make it stronger and make it safer for everyone,” said Steveson, who hopes to get a chance to focus on keeping the town clean with repairs and maintenance a priority.

Also on next week’s ticket are candidates Wade Baldwin, Jerry J. Burden, Paul Hanlon, Freeman Parsons, Dion Penney, Janice Slade, and Paul Snow.