Slave Lakers voted in big numbers for a total political outsider in Monday’s election, putting adult education worker Karina Pillay-Kinnee into the mayor’s chair. They returned three incumbent councillors to work with her and elected three novices as well.
I’m just thrilled,” said the mayor-elect early Tuesday morning, after waiting up in vain for results until after 2:00 a.m. the night before. “It’s an honour for me. I’m definitely ready to get busy.”
Pillay-Kinnee gave credit to her “great support team,” and thanked Slave Lake residents for getting out and voting.
Pillay-Kinnee outpolled her closest rivals Craig Graham and Gary Ruecker by better than two-to-one. She got 851 votes to Graham’s 361. Ruecker was third with 356 and Les Close a distance fourth with 119 votes.
For councillor, incumbent Valerie Tradewell was the choice of 986 voters, followed by incumbent Elaine Carmichael with 821, newcomer Rob Irwin with 747, incumbent George Snider with 649, Doug Bolan with 635 and Laura Vanderwell-Ross with 630.
Kevin Walker and Darby Bannister missed out by 24 and 23 votes, respectively.
At 1,688 voters, the turnout far surpassed any in recent memory.

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