By Mark Squibb
Kayla Parsons, 31, has been elected to Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove town council following last week’s by-election.
Parsons garnered 46 votes, narrowly beating candidate Craig Chafe’s 44 votes. Mark Glynn tallied 11 votes.
Parsons grew up in Conception Bay South, but moved to Petty Harbor in 2018, where she lives with her husband Brett and three daughters. She boasts a Bachelor of Science degree from Memorial University and has worked in a number of different fields from youth care to construction. She currently works for the provincial government.
“I felt that I may be able to bring a new perspective (to council chambers),” said Parsons, citing her youth and work experience. “I’m hoping that I can create a space that young families want to move to.”
Besides her focus on families, Parsons said road conditions and water quality in the town are concerns that she shares with residents.
She attributes her win to her and her family being active and well known within the community, and to the residents’ interest in having a fresh, new voice at the council table.
Since the by-election, Parsons has been sworn in and attended her first public meeting Tuesday night.
“Everybody seems very nice and very welcoming,” said Parsons of her council colleagues. “There wasn’t a lot on the agenda for that evening, but I’m sure there will be lots to chat about as I get further into this. I’m just taking this one little step at a time right now.”
Parsons, who noted her life motto is to leave a place better than when she found it, also expressed her thanks to all those who cast a vote in the by-election, regardless of who they voted for.
“It’s so important to get out and cast your vote,” said Parsons. “And it seems that less and less people are getting out to vote. So, I would like to thank everybody who did vote, and for those who voted for me, I hope I can fill the seat well.”
