Published May 28, 2024

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

For the second time in less than three years, the mayor of the municipality of Havelock has resigned.

Havelock’s director general, Mylène Vincent, tabled Gerald Beaudoin’s official resignation at the start of the May 6 regular council meeting, along with the resignation of councillor number six, Christopher Sherrington. Both positions were subsequently declared vacant.

Beaudoin was elected to the position of mayor during the byelection on November 20, 2022, following the sudden resignation of Stephane Gingras who had won the 2021 municipal election a year earlier.

Beaudoin had previously served as mayor between 1987 and 1992 and he was approached to run again by community members. There were rumblings of some problems at the council table, and he says he thought he could be of some help.

“Last September, I flagged a problem, and suggested several ways to solve this, and unfortunately no progress was made,” says Beaudoin. “I decided skills other than mine were required to rectify the situation,” he adds.

The former mayor admits he was reluctant to resign at this point because he knew it would trigger an election. “At my age, I don’t need to be working in a toxic environment,” he says, referring to the reported atmosphere around the council table. “I thought the sooner we get on with this, the better.”

Beaudoin says he was privileged to have worked with Vincent at the municipality, and he thanks the members of the community for their support during his time as mayor. “I hope there are better days ahead for Havelock,” he concludes.

A byelection for both the position of mayor and councillor seat number six will take place simultaneously in the coming weeks; however, an official date has not been announced. Vincent says the date will be confirmed as early as possible, either during the regular council meeting scheduled to take place on June 3 or during a special meeting later in the month.

In the meantime, the role of acting mayor has been filled by councillor number one, Hélène Lavallée, who was appointed to the position of deputy mayor by resolution during a special meeting on December 19, 2023.

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