By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter)

Kim Craig re-elected in Coaldale – No vote for VLTs

Oct 16, 2017 | 10:38 PM

COALDALE –  When asked how he felt about his win, Coaldale’s re-elected Mayor said he was “elated.” However, the quaver in his voice belied his relief. 
 
For Kim Craig, it will be his fourth term as Mayor of Coaldale, as he defeated former Councillor Jack Van Rijn for the seat, by a vote of 1149 to 1090. 
 
The mayoral election campaign was contentious, to say the least, with allegations from some Coaldale residents about fake social media accounts being used to bolster one candidate over another.
 
Craig took the view that social media was a new dynamic in this election, on more than one front.
 
“I was listening to the reports from Calgary and they were saying that the campaign got into real vitriol, primarily through social media, and I think that’s kinda what happened [in Coaldale] – you know, people get active on it, people say stuff and do stuff and it gets spun out of control.
 
“I tried to keep a pretty tight social media presence and limit my time on it,” said Craig. “So I think it worked out pretty good for me.”
 
There is also the dynamic of a small-town environment that has to be dealt with. The Mayor-elect concedes it is an unfortunate situation, as he has known his challenger for 25 years. Van Rijn is the town’s well known former Deputy Fire Chief, who just wrapped up a term as a town councillor.
 
Craig acknowledged he had a sixth sense when the election started that it could spawn a divisive situation for the community, as the two men have common friends, and in a community of just 8,200 people, everyone knows most everyone else.
 
“I hope we can move past it and heal everything and have good community spirit moving forward.”
 
There are a number of major outstanding items still on the agenda for Coaldale’s new council to contend with. Craig says those items include work on the Malloy Drain storm-water management, the Regional bike path from Coaldale to Lethbridge, and they are awaiting word on an annexation request from the Municipal Government Board in the new year.
 
The Council members who will join the Mayor-elect include incumbents Bill Chapman (1561), Roger Hohm (1288) and Jacen G. Abrey (1430), as well as newcomers Briane Simpson (1475), Butch Pauls (1291), Doreen Lloyd (1212).
 
The other major item from Monday’s ballot in Coaldale, was the VLT question. Residents were asked if Town Council should pass a Bylaw to allow for the installation, operation and use of video lottery terminals (VLTs) within the Town of Coaldale.

The response was – No: 1113   (Yes 1100).

Coaldale Town Council voted in March 2017 to send the question to a plebiscite.
 
On a final note, Craig congratulated Councillor Van Rijn on a hard fought campaign and hoped the two men could move forward.

—  Voter turnout for Coaldale was 39 per cent with 2265 ballots cast out of 5780 eligible voters.