KENSINGTON — Voters here have opted for “leadership that listens,” electing Gordon Coffin as the town’s new mayor.
Coffin defeated incumbent Barry Campbell 352 votes to 113 in Monday night’s municipal election.
Coffin didn’t offer a detailed agenda of what he has in store for the community during his
term, but rather a blueprint for growth that will see the
town became stronger from within.
The mayor-elect said a gradual expansion of the town’s borders would provide a wider tax base and a means of enhancing economic development and activity in Kensington.
“I want to see an orderly, planned growth of the town,” he said.
“There are areas of the town that, in an orderly fashion, could be brought into the
town.”
He said there are areas within Kensington where one side of the street is in town and the other side of the street is not.
“The Charlottetown Road is a good example,” Coffin said.
“You go up about 10 houses on the right-hand side, (they) are in town and the rest aren’t. And the other side, the left-hand side is in the town.”
He said this would occur over time and by providing services to these areas.
The town needs more facilities, Coffin said, and that is what brought him into municipal politics.
“What got me interested was being on a planning committee to create a new wellness centre for the town,” he said.
“And wellness being considered holistic — a place for recreation and bringing a lot of other pieces together.”
Coffin said throughout his campaign and talking with residents of the town, the overwhelming priority of the voters is to see Kensington grow.
“My biggest strength is my personal appeal and a strong reputation for being a fair person that will listen,” he said.

Voting for councillors:

Marvin Mill — 327 votes;
Jeff Spencer — 324 votes;
Rowan Caseley — 314 votes;
Paul Chessman — 306 votes;
Mack MacLean — 277 votes;
Gary Gallant — 275 votes.