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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2003-11-12, Page 3News Kaastra wins see -saw fight for local school board seat By Stow Stator Special to The Expositor The Holmesville parent who was active during the Avon Maitland District School Board's last Accommodation Review process won a see -saw victory over two former teachers in the board's Central East Huron ward. Shelley Kaastra earned 1,134 votes, with former Brussels principal Paul Dyck coming second with 1,007. Former teacher Michele (Verbeek) Colquhoun also helped make the race interesting, placing a close third with 915 votes. Dyk took an early lead in the Central East Huron race before Kaastra eventually emerged victorious. Kaastra, meanwhile, has certainly not faded from the view of Avon Maitland trustees, since the conclusion of the 2002 Accommodation Review process. The Holmesville resident rarely misses a board meeting as a member of the public, and has been involved with a larger -scale parent group which made a submission to a province - wide panel, headed by Dr. Robin Downey, charged by the former Conservative government with developing Shelley Koastra its Rural Education Strategy. Prior to the election, Kaastra told Clinton News - Record editor Cheryl Heath that, "there are a lot of concerns and things that need to be changed and dealt with both at the board level and government level." Kaastra works as a dining room supervisor and on the family farm. She has four children, all attending school within the Avon Maitland system. In a race between two people who helped spearhead successful campaigns to save schools threatened with possible closure by the Avon Maitland District School Board, Emily Milley eked out a close victory to represent Northwest Huron as a trustee to that same board. Unofficial results from Monday's municipal election showed Milley earning 1,868 votes. Saltford resident Brad Henderson fell just 47 votes short, with 1,821. Milley, of Goderich, was formerly chair of the Robertson Memorial Public School parent council, while Henderson held the same post at Colborne Central Public School. Both schools faced the threat of closure during the board's Student Accommodation Review process in 2001-02. The seat was left open following the decision by 2000-03 trustee Butch Desjardine not to seek re- election. Former educators weren't entirely shut out Monday night, however; in the only other Avon Maitland seat being contested during the election, former principal Doug Pratley joined incumbent Meg Westley, the board's current chair, as the two trustees from Stratford. There were four candidates for the post. Westley was the only incumbent, with the other Stratford seat left open when Rod Brown resigned to move to another part of Ontario. John Van Bakel remains mayor of West Perth By Andy Bader Mitchell Advocate Editor The only • mayor the Municipality of West Perth has ever known will remain John Van Bakel. After just over one hour of tabulating the seven polls in the Municipal election Monday, Van Bakel was easily re-elected for the third time to guide council over the next three years, turning back the challenges of Fullarton Ward Coun. Bill French and Bert Vorstenbosch. Unofficially, Van Bakel finished with 1,179 votes, compared to 835, by Vorstenbosch - who lost to Van Bakel in the last election - and 569 for French. Van Bakel, 58, of RR 1 Bornholm, viewed the result as an endorsement of the way council has handled the past three years. "It's not a reflection on me, but a reflection of council," Van Bakel said afterwards. "I'm relieved, but grateful for the support. I honestly don't know how to read these things coming in but obviously people still support my direction and the direction of council." Van Bakel won six of the seven polls, losing by just 29 votes in the ward of Fullarton (172 for Vorstenbosch, and 143 for Van Bakel). Vorstenbosch was just 39 votes short in Mitchell (509- , 470), while Van Bakel easily outdistanced his challengers in Hibbert and Logan wards, totalling 442 votes compared to' 138 votes for French and 136 for Vorstenbosch. Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company Ex.Mr, Ontario NOM 131 (Established in 1878) Provides Full Insurance Coverage for Farm Properties New Applications Are Welcomed DIRECTORS & ADJUSTORS Jos CM1e, R R. 5 Mt eel 3169106 pan Teener, RR. 2 Dab 3454303 Lary Gardner, R R. 2 Stab 315,2116 Zit Hetet RR 1 IGttm 22!8152 Iktesl OSliee, R R 3 Granton 225- 2000 Morris Meta R R 2 St Peek 3936615 AGENTS Wipe liar, Sitar 236.1915 Dsrid MM Min 316,2512 Bab WINK D *in 315-2512 Awe Ur*, Aecasl 3469012 Hnd Me, Elsie 2350350 The fact that there really wasn't any issues in the election helped the incumbent, Van Bakel admitted, while one voter told Vorstenbosch that there really wasn't a lot of difference between the three candidates. The split vote was a factor, French said, who had spent the past nine years - six of those on West Perth council - representing Fullarton. "I thought with the third man in, something like this could easily happen," he said. "I had a good feeling going in today, but you have no idea with a three-way race. Once I saw that first poll result, I could see the trend. "I'm not disappointed," he continued. "It was a fair race and I put everything into it. Now I'll have more time for myself and for my family. It's just another bend in the road of life. French, 60, of RR 2 Mitchell, said he looks forward to spending more time with his daughter Julie in Owen Sound, noting that in the four years she and her husband has lived there, he's visited maybe six times because of his busy schedule. Vorstenbosch, 62, of RR 2 Mitchell, the first deputy mayor of West Perth, took the defeat harder than French. "I feel disappointed....let down," he said, "but it's what the• people wanted, and I respect that." As for' the vote split. Vorstenbosch said he doesn't believe it would have made a difference. "I don't think all of Bill's people would have supported me anyway, and vice versa," he said. Vorstenbosch said people told him three years ago he should have waited to run for mayor, rather than challenge Van Bakel then, "but I didn't want to do that." He said he wasn't going to second-guess the decision this time, saying he had something to offer and has given plenty to the municipality, and especially Mitchell, behind the scenes. That won't continue, he said. "I feel good for what I've done, but that's it," he said. "I think I've worked hard for the town [especially with the creation of the West Perth Thames Nature Trail]. I can get involved in something else." T61E HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER 12, 2003-3 wommarnissmiimmilimmis25 COLOR PORTRAM with quality you can seel Reg. $24.95 Package Save Sumo Now Only 5=4.95 >� $7.o0 srni PEE A Package hrcltidess 3 (5 x rs) 2 (3 112 x 5) - 8 Wallets -12 Mini Wallets Scenic BAC unds - addltionel 4 Softies $7.00. Advathedspacialisinbhsandbia t badgro xld - Pose our*lactiorL Additional pommels are available at reader price. 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