By Trevor Greenway

Kazabazua has a new municipal councillor after its previous one spent too much time in the Bahamas. 

The municipality held a by-election this past Sunday to replace two-term councillor Craig Gabie, who missed too many council meetings because he was on a research assignment in the Bahamas for several months this summer, according to municipal minutes. Gabie had not been at a meeting since February.

Sunday’s election saw the up-the-line municipality elect Brandy Killeen as the new councillor, who beat out several other candidates, including Gabie’s wife, Kelly Connolly. According to Elections Quebec, Killeen won 34.44 per cent of the vote, with an 18.83 per cent voter turnout. 

According to the Act Respecting Elections and Referendums in Municipalities In Quebec, municipal councillors can only miss up to 90 days, or their term automatically ends. Gabie told the Low Down that he missed six meetings while he was working at a research institute focused on sustainability and eco responsibility. 

The work was not part of his councillor role. Gabie told the Low Down earlier this summer that he had planned to attend July’s meeting, but his flights were changed and delayed. He said that, although he was away for such an extended period, he still kept tabs on municipal politics.

“Yes, I have stayed in touch with Kazabazua affairs,” Gabie said. “Our home is Kazabazua, and we are in continuous contact with family, friends and council members.”

Kazabazua Mayor Robert Bergeron said that council agreed to pass a motion this summer to grant Gabie more time to be away so that he could continue his research work and still act as a councillor, but the Commission municipale du Québec (CMQ) ruled that Gabie’s absence was “unjustified” and his term was officially terminated. 

Gabie told the Low Down Oct. 15 that he suggested to council in February that he resign from his seat, as he didn’t know how long his Bahamas work contract would last and wasn’t sure how engaged he could be. But he said he was told that Kaz was legally allowed to grant him extensions, and that he did not need to step down. He tried to join meetings via Zoom, but was told that was not possible. 

Gabie said that, although he is no longer a councillor, he will continue to do everything he can to make Kazabazua a better place to live.

“My dedication to this community is not as a councillor, it is as a community member, as a dad, a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend and a neighbour,” Gabie told the Low Down. “I am a proud member of the Kaz community, and my dedication to it is so that my kids don’t have to leave our community to find better opportunities in life; so that they can have all of those things right here in Kaz.”

Coun. Killeen did not respond to an interview request from the Low Down by press time.