By June Norvila
Bentley and area election results
Long-time Bentley resident Butch Howard received 211 votes, Lynda Haarstad Petten, who had previously been a councillor and had worked in the town office got 205 votes, incumbent Sandra Smyth garnered 185 votes, and incumbent Cliff Knutson gathered 177 votes. Just missing the cut was two-year Bentley resident Pamela Davey with 153 votes.
Out of an estimated 753 eligible voters according to the last census, 288 cast their ballots — only six more than in the 2007 election, meaning about 38 per cent of those eligible voted, which is above the provincial average. More than 300 voted in the 2004 election — almost 40 per cent. There were 600 ballots prepared.
Returning officer Elizabeth Knull indicated that voting was busiest for the first 20 minutes on election day and then voting remained steady for the rest of the day. Twenty had cast their ballots at the advance poll on Oct.8, which is more than usual.
There appeared to be a good cross section of ages voting so there was good representation of the populace.
In the Lacombe County area surrounding Bentley, the division 5 seat that is basically south and east of Bentley was won by incumbent Ken Wigmore with 206 votes over newcomer Kelly McCullough with 43 votes. In division 6 south and west of Bentley, incumbent Keith Stephenson was acclaimed — the only acclamation in the county election.
Ward 4 Bentley school trustee remains Karin Engen by acclamation.