THUNDER BAY -- According to the at-large winners of Monday night’s election, the people have spoken and are saying they’re satisfied with the direction council has taken the city the past four years.
All four incumbents running were re-elected Monday taking the top four slots and former at-large councillor Frank Pullia claimed the seat vacated by Ken Boshcoff who took a shot at the mayor’s seat this election.
Rebecca Johnson said she felt good winning a seat at the council table for a fourth term.
“It makes me feel the work I have done to date is accepted by the community. I’m very active and so the community has said the work that I have done is being recognized. Therefore, from that one can feel positive that what you’re doing is the right thing for the community,” she said.
“The numbers communicate that.”
Johnson pulled in 14,620 votes to rank third in the at-large race. Iain Angus topped the list with 15,861 votes followed by Larry Hebert with 14,664 votes. Aldo Ruberto received 14,311 votes and Pullia rounded out the top five with 14,112.
Angus said he’s honoured the people of Thunder Bay felt highly enough of him to elect him for a fourth term.
“I think it’s very clear from tonight’s results that people are very satisfied with the direction that council has been taking the community, that they want the vast majority of council members back so that we can keep doing what we’ve been doing,” he said.
“I’m very pleased with that.”
Ruberto said he believes the majority of residents know what’s going on with the city and the people with negative views are in the minority.
“Let’s respect what the people have said. They said keep doing what we’re doing,” he said.
“When you see so many people getting back in, it tells you people are happy with what’s going on contrary to what people have been trying to say. They’ve said we believe in the future. We believe in this council. They know there’s a great future ahead for this city.”
In the last municipal election, Pullia threw his hat into the mayor’s race but came in third. He said he learned more from losing than winning.
“You look at things from a different perspective. One thing you learn is never to become complacent, to listen to the people. We are here to represent them,” he said.
Pullia is ready to rejoin council’s ranks and says they have a lot of work ahead of them.
“I look forward to be working with my fellow councilors in moving Thunder Bay forward,” he said.
Hebert couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
