Gaetan Baillargeon says he was in disbelief when he saw the final results that declared him as the new mayor of Hearst. Baillargeon, a two term councillor, edged out incumbent Roger Sigouin by 50 votes —716 to 666. Another former mayor Jean Marie Blier was third. The new mayor credited the younger residents who got out to voted as the difference in the election.
“You know we went around and talked to the younger people and told them how important it was for them to get out there and vote,” he said. “Our biggest thing is always telling people if you want to be part of the decision you have to vote because if you don’t vote we don’t want to hear you complain what’s going on.”
There will be a lot of familiarity around the council the table as five incumbents were all re-elected plus a former councillor who opted to run again. Baillargeon says he is anxious to get started and see where the six councillors can best benefit Hearst.
Baillargeon, who also becomes the first indigenous mayor of the community, says he felt pretty calm most of the day until later on.
“We sat down and talked about before when I ran for Mushkegowuk James Bay and that was a blowout,” he said. “I went in here thinking I hope I win looking forward to it but I also put in my head that if you don’t win that’s ok we move forward with the next chapter.”
HEARST (100% votes in)
MAYOR:
- Gaetan Baillargeon = 716
- Roger Sigouin = 666
- Jean-Marie Blier = 421
COUNCIL:
- Josee Vachon = 1,378
- Yan Drolet = 1,298
- Martin Lanoix = 1,289
- Joel Lauzon = 1,205
- Marc Dufresne = 1,198
- Daniel Lemaire = 1,182
- Melanie Delage = 1,006
