Byelection candidate acclaimed to Harbour Grace council
By Local Journalism Initiative Report Olivia Bradbury
Harbour Grace native Sherrie Reynolds has been sworn in as the town’s newest councillor.
Reynolds will be filling the seat vacated by longtime member Gordon Stone, who resigned in April of this year. As she was the only person to put their name forward on nomination day on May 27, a June 23 byelection was cancelled
A stay-at-home mom and homemaker, this was Reynolds first time running for municipal council. Aside from a decade spent in Alberta, she has lived in Harbour Grace all her life. When she returned to her hometown, her family encouraged her to run for council. However, she turned down the suggestions as she was raising her children at the time.
Reynolds was nominated for council by one of her friends, with another friend acting as seconder.
“I thought they were crazy first,” said Reynolds. “But, God love them, they’ve got a lot of faith in me. A lot of people do. Sometimes you just need that little push.”
Reynolds admitted she was a bit disappointing to win through acclamation.
“The reason being is that it’s nice when you have a competition, right?” she explained.
She said it would have been nice if there had been a few candidates that residents could have chosen from with their votes.
“But it’s fine, I’m hoping to do the best I can for the community, and I have a wonderful bunch of councillors to be working with,” she added.
Reynolds said she can bring some fresh ideas to council, though she acknowledged she has a lot of catching up to do as a new member. She said her fellow council members have been very helpful so far. She hopes, once she learns more and has more information, she will be able to formulate her own opinions on, for example, what areas need extra effort, changes that could be made to regulations or by-laws, and so on.
Ultimately, Reynolds wants to help make Harbour Grace a better place. She said that there is only so much a single individual on council can do, but she wants to work together as a team with her fellow council members to come up with new and exciting ideas.
When Harbour Grace residents come to her with ideas or problems, Reynolds hopes to be able to help them in someway. “It might not always be the answer that they want, but it’s what’s best or what’s available at that particular time,” she said. “I’m not one to back down, so if something doesn’t work today, it might work next week. I’m there to listen to the people for the people.”
“I just hope that I do my local citizens proud,” Reynolds said. “I’m going to try my best to do what I can. I do look forward to the next three years and, if all goes well, I will run in the next election.”