There were lots of “woo-hoos” in the crowd of supporters gathered at Kerry Cook’s home Saturday night, when word came in that she had been elected to her second term as mayor of Williams Lake.
“It’s pretty darn exciting,” Cook said when the hugging stopped and there was finally a moment for a formal comment. “It’s been a long day. We worked hard. We have a great team and we are really pleased with the results.”
Cook received 1,777 votes, defeating fellow mayoral candidates Scott Nelson and Walt Cobb, who received 1,090 and 747 votes, respectively.
“We are right on the brink of some very exciting times and I am so excited to be able to be leading the city once again. It’s been an honour and a privilege,” Cook said.
After hearing the results, Nelson spoke to the Tribune at his campaign headquarters and congratulated Cook on her win.
“I think she ran a very successful, honest, open, clean campaign,” Nelson said. “The community spoke very loudly and very clearly. Williams Lake is the best place to work, play, live, and invest in, and whatever we can do to continue moving this community forward, we need to do it together now. I’m very supportive of Kerry.”
Cobb, after hearing the results, said he was obviously disappointed.
“But the electorate made the decision. Kerry is re-elected and we just get on with the rest of our lives,” Cobb said.
Laurie Walters, Surinderpal Rathor, Sue Zacharias, Ivan Bonnell, Geoff Boudon, and Danica Hughes were elected as councillors.
All results are preliminary at this time. The Declaration of Official Results will be made at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
For further details on the candidates who ran for council, see page A2.