Debbie Fawcett, who lost last November's mayoralty race to Ron Dillman by a slim margin, has now been elected mayor of Melancthon Township by a margin of 31 over her nearest rival.

Of 681 ballots cast in Monday's by-election to replace former mayor Dillman, who died shortly after he was elected, Ms. Fawcett received 262, Rick Riddall 231, Richard Anderson 149, and Floyd Collins 39.

Melancthon has 2,818 eligible voters. Monday's turnout of 681 is just a shade more than 24 per cent. Last November, the turnout was 10 better at 691 - still fewer than 25 per cent.

Oddly, it was Mr. Riddall's first run at municipal politics, although he is manager of the township's landfill site and no stranger to municipal affairs. In the November election, Mr. Dillman was also taking his first shot at a political office.

For newcomers to the political arena to make a noteworthy appearance might seem strange at a time when the term as been extended to four years.

But Mr. Riddall had made an impressive presentation at the all-candidates meeting in Horning's Mills, and had visited electors door-to-door throughout the campaign.

And, for several months prior to last November's election, Mr. Dillman had been actively recruiting for Dufferin Landowners Association.

Ms. Fawcett, who previously served on county council as deputy reeve/ mayor, will have spent 19 years as a municipal representative by the time the current 4-year term ends.

She said she feels good about the election - not just about the outcome, but because of what she described as a "fair campaign for everybody. Everyone worked hard."

Reached on her cell phone as she was completing her rural mail deliveries, Ms. Fawcett was asked about two current issues - the wind farm and household hazardous waste.

She said she is in favour of the turbines where they are now. She would not be in support of such developments "on potato ground or in the Hills of Mulmur."

County council has voted to take over hazardous wastes, rather than to continue the present system. But it requires a triple majority vote to do so.

Ms. Fawcett said she feels the present system is more cost-effective than what the county is proposing. The present system "is more cost effective as ours is a userpay system." She was "not in favour" of the county's proposal.

Another major county waste management issue are thermal processing and composting. She said she would attend tonight's Community Development Committee meeting, where requests for proposals are on the agenda.