A familiar face is returning to the mayoralty in Havelock following a 30-year hiatus from municipal politics. Gerald Beaudoin was elected to the position during a municipal byelection on November 20, following the resignation earlier this fall of former mayor Stéphane Gingras. Beaudoin won handily against Philippe Bourdeau, a municipal councillor who had been serving as interim mayor. Beaudoin received 238 of the 281 votes cast.
This will be the second term as mayor of the municipality for Beaudoin, who was first elected to the position in 1987. Previously, he served as secretary-treasurer for the municipality from 1981 to 1986, when he was elected to sit as a councillor. He left the position of mayor after five years in 1992. Now, three decades later, he swore the oath to serve the people of Havelock once more during a brief ceremony on November 25 in the presence Mylène Vincent, the director general and returning officer for the election.
“This is round number two,” said Beaudoin, who was encouraged to run for mayor by numerous citizens in Havelock. “I concluded my life experiences since the last time around would allow me to contribute at this time,” he said, noting he was now retired and able to devote his time to municipal business.
Beaudoin said that one of his goals will revolve around improving citizen’s perception of the municipality by ensuring more transparency. “My objective is just to bring a little bit of calm and a little less of that acrimony,” he explained, while describing the last few years in the municipality as having been somewhat tumultuous.
Voter turnout for the byelection was relatively high at just over 37 per cent. A second byelection will take place in the new year for the position of councillor seat number 2, which was vacated by Bourdeau when he decided to run for mayor.
