David Truckey will replace the late Doug Fleming as Westlock’s representative on the Pembina Hills school board.
The final count, provided by returning officer Tracy Meunier after the polls closed at 8 p.m. on March 26, showed Truckey with 118 votes and his opponent Doug Pearson with 102 votes. One ballot was spoiled.
“I was very pleased; obviously when people enter a race they do so wanting to win,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Once he is sworn in, he said, the next priorities will be the same ones he has articulated during his campaign: raising the profile of the school division in the community and trying to ensure stable funding to keep rural schools open and well equipped.
But Truckey will first have to get his feet under him.
“I think the biggest priority for me right now is going to be the learning curve,” he said. “It’s not something I’ve been involved in the past so for me that will be the biggest challenge.”
While he has ample experience in board governance as a town councillor and a member of various committees, education is an area in which he has limited expertise.
As for whether Truckey’s responsibilities as a trustee will interfere with his current responsibilities as a town councillor, he said he did not anticipate having any trouble with conflicts: the town is responsible for things like street lights and sewers, while the school board has an entirely different set of responsibilities.
“I don’t think there’s going to be a crossover in terms of what our priorities are in the community,” he said. “Obviously there will be some busy scheduling times, that’s going to be one challenge.”
Meunier said Truckey would not be sworn in until Friday, at the earliest, in accordance with provincial law.
“The results are unofficial until noon the fourth day following the election,” she said. “According to the Local Authorities Election Act, the other candidate does have the opportunity to call for a recount.”
Pearson, however, has said he does not intend to appeal the results.
“I hadn’t even thought of it. With 16 votes out of 118 … 10 per cent I might have, but 15 per cent no,” he said. “The electors made their choice, and I hope David does a good job.”
He acknowledged that some of the statements he made during the campaign could have swayed some votes — several people had expressed displeasure at his comments regarding a conversation he had with Fleming about R.F. Staples test scores.
“I stand by what I said. If they think I was dishonest then it’s their right to have that opinion,” he said. “I don’t think it should have been a personal attack. If they disagree with me, disagree with me, but disagree with my ideas and my opinions.”
Pearson said he would be interested in running again when the school board trustees come up for election again in October 2013, but said by that time his concerns about the high school may have been resolved.
