Cecil Clarke to return to mayor’s office in CBRM, CBC News projects
Longtime political veteran Cecil Clarke staged his latest comeback on Saturday, with CBC News projecting he will retake the mayor’s office in Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
The 56-year-old former provincial cabinet minister faced off against eight challengers, but it was not a rematch against Amanda McDougall, the current mayor of the municipality who narrowly defeated Clarke four years ago. She decided not to run for re-election.
Clarke served two terms as mayor before being knocked off by McDougall in 2020.
On Saturday he opened up a quick lead as results started rolling in and did not look back, outpacing challengers including Joe Ward and Rankin MacSween. MacSween finished second to Clarke in each of his previous two mayoral wins.
CBC News is also projecting Eldon MacDonald will hold his seat in District 5, Paul Nickituk will be the next councillor in District 10 and Darren O’Quinn will return as councillor for District 11.
Five councillors were acclaimed: Gordon MacDonald in District 1; Earlene MacMullin in District 2; Steve Gillespie in District 4; Glenn Paruch in District 6; and Steve Parsons in District 7.