New mayor and council elected in Murray River

CBC
·1 min read
Tom Scott will be the new mayor of Murray River after an election on Monday. (Submitted by Tom Scott - image credit)
Tom Scott will be the new mayor of Murray River after an election on Monday. (Submitted by Tom Scott - image credit)

Citizens of Murray River, P.E.I., have elected a new mayor and council.

Tom Scott is the new mayor of the rural municipality in southeastern P.E.I., according to unofficial results from its website.

In an interview Tuesday, he said he was "a little overwhelmed" at his win, adding: "I am happy to be able to serve the village that I live in."

Scott had previously served as both mayor and councillor in Murray River.

The highway sign for Murray River, P.E.I.
The highway sign for Murray River, P.E.I.

The town needed to hold elections after four of the community's six councillors resigned, dropping the council to below the threshold to carry on under the Prince Edward Island Municipal Government Act. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

Six residents won council seats: Tanya Campbell, Shawn Dawson, Karri Ferguson, Michael Franklin, Marvin MacLeod and Kelly Scott.

Elections were held Monday. Out of 265 eligible voters, 99 cast ballots.

Murray River had to hold the election after four of the community's six councillors resigned in the year since P.E.I.'s last round of municipal elections. That dropped the council to below the legal threshold to carry on, according to the Prince Edward Island Municipal Government Act.

Council was dissolved and a trustee has been running the rural municipality.