Kirklanders elect trio

Kirkland voters made their choice in three districts Sunday night, sending incumbents Michel Gibson and Paul Dufort back to town hall along with newcomer Tony Di Gennara in District 3.

Di Gennara garnered 260 votes to beat out three other candidates in the Brunswick district vacated by Brian (Buck) MacDonald, who did not seek re-election. It was a close race as longtime council watchdog Alex Smith finished four votes behind while retired police officer Mark Bouchard was just nine behind the winner.

Gibson, with 450 votes, fended off challenges by Isidore Barillaro (157 votes) and Jean-Pierre Lavigne (145 votes) in District 1. “The citizens have given me another strong mandate for the work I did and will continue to do in the future,” he said.

Gibson said the campaign got ugly after Barillaro attacked his reputation.

“He falsely accused me of corruption,” Gibson said. “Was he so desperate he attacked my family asking where did all the tax money go, implying I took it? The voters were more intelligent than him. I plan to send a letter to all Timberlea residents by the end of the week. I am still pondering my (legal) options.”

In District 7, Dufort, with 726 votes, toppled challenger Vincent Trengia who had only 81 votes.

“I worked hard and I know people in my district,” Dufort said after removing his campaign signs Monday morning. “We had a 50 per cent voter turnout (in my district) and I got about 90 per cent of the vote.”

Dufort, a retired police inspector, said he has the respect of voters who know he will deal with issues directly.

“Basically, the city is well run. We just need to stay the course and keep taxes down or at a steady pace,” he said. “When I vote on money matters, I always think of it as if I was spending my own money.”

Kirkland Mayor John Meaney as well as returning councillors Luciano Piciacchia, Domenico Zito, Brian Swinburne, John Morson and André Allard were acclaimed.