Cal Huntley is the next mayor of Flin Flon after a closely divided electorate ended George Fontaine’s tenure in one of the biggest nail-biters in municipal history.
Just four votes were the difference in Wednesday’s mayoral election as Huntley prepares to lead a council that includes five incumbents and one newcomer.
“Obviously I’m very pleased,” said Huntley, 55, after the final results came in. “I was hoping this would be the result. I’m glad it was close, but let’s face it, it’s very hard to beat the incumbent. So I’m a little bit overwhelmed right now, but I gave it some due diligence before I went into this and I think I’m prepared.”
In an interview late Wednesday, Fontaine said he likely would not seek a recount. He later confirmed to CFAR that he would not challenge the result.
Tiny margin
Huntley’s margin of victory amounted to just 0.31 per cent as he garnered 630 tallies of 1,310 cast. Fontaine finished the night with 626 votes. The third candidate, Robin James, had 54 votes.
On city council, Leslie Beck is the lone newcomer among incumbents Tim Babcock, Colleen McKee, Ken Pawlachuk, Bill Hanson and Karen MacKinnon.
Victory eluded Tom Davie in his first run for council. By a margin of 31 votes, the union leader was the only unsuccessful candidate in a race that saw seven people run for six spots.
But it was the remarkably tight race for mayor – many called it a major upset – that was the buzz of Flin Flon.
Huntley, the senior contracts administrator at Hudbay, said he has no qualms about assuming the mayoralty amid such division in the community.
“One of the strengths I believe I bring to the table is the ability to build relationships,” said Huntley, a former city councillor. “And I think that’s what it’s all about. So there was a division in the community with regards to George and I, but in all honesty we ran fairly closely and we have similar feelings on a lot of the issues. It’s just the approach that’s a little bit different. So I don’t think there’s going to be a problem. I think we’re going to see some – we’ll get rid of the doom and gloom conversation and let’s move forward with Flin Flon in a very positive fashion.”
Accepted result
Fontaine, whose mayoralty ends after a single term, said the voters made their choice.
“I’m disappointed, but on the other hand it’s that old thing: the people have spoken,” he said. “And if they want a different direction, then I suppose they’re going to have a different direction.”
Fontaine said he and council had done “a lot of things” that were “very contentious,” including a new levy designed to raise taxes on low-end homes and lower them on high-end homes.
“We work as a group throughout the whole thing, but really it always falls on the shoulders of the person who is sitting in the chair in the front,” he said. “So if there’s a position that [voters] didn’t like, obviously they weren’t going to be able to change the council, but they could change the leader, and so that’s the option that they had and apparently the people have used it.”
Throughout his campaign, Huntley encouraged change-hungry voters to cast their ballots for him. So now that he has evidently been elected, what change can the community expect?
“I think the tone has to change for Flin Flon,” Huntley said, adding, however, that he is one of seven votes. “We have to be open to build relationships with the neighbouring communities. We don’t have to be quite as positional as we were before. And we have to look for opportunities to work together.”
Though Huntley was declared the winner, he still has some convincing to do. With 48 per cent of the popular vote, he is the first Flin Flon mayor since 1992 who failed to obtain majority support.
Still, his successful, word-of-mouth-based campaign proved that he has made inroads in the court of public opinion since losing his council seat in 2010.
Huntley, a third-generation Flin Flonner, said his campaign benefitted from his being known. He also spoke with “a lot of different groups” and enjoyed the support of friends who campaigned for him.
“Some of the councillors that are presently on council were speaking highly of me as well, too, so that all contributed,” he said.
Huntley spent election night with friends listening to the results come in.
“I have to admit, my kids and I were texting steady and they were as excited as I was, and it was coming right down to the wire and it was great,” he said. “I think it was really great for Flin Flon. I know the turnout was less than 40 per cent, but at least it was a real race. There was a real competition there. Two good candidates. The people had an opportunity to make a choice and fortunately for me, they chose me.”
As for the possibility of a recount, Huntley said he would be fine with that but it would be up to Fontaine.
Assuming the result stands, Huntley will be sworn in as Flin Flon’s 20th mayor next month.
