County's New Deputy Warden Optimistic About The Future

ARICHAT - Election night was just the beginning for Michael Diggdon. 

The first-time candidate cruised to victory in Richmond County's District Two, which takes in the western half of Arichat and the western and northern portions of Isle Madame, as well as the mainland Richmond County community of Lennox Passage. 

In his first campaign, Diggdon chalked up 523 votes as compared to the 173 taken by Gerry Bourque - who had served on Richmond council from 1985 to 2004. Another newcomer, Carolyn Clackdoyle, took 153 votes to finish third in District Two, which was left vacant after previous councillor Alvin Martell declined to reoffer after spending 16 years at the council table.

While Diggdon admitted to a few nervous moments when early polls saw him trailing Bourque, he remained confident and was grateful to see District Two voters put their trust in him after a busy pre-election period.

"In the last two weeks of going door-to-door, the word on the street was that I was a shoo-in for the position, so I was pretty confident that I was going to win," Diggdon remarked. 

Nine days after his victory, the newly sworn-in District Two councillor added another title to his job description, as Diggdon's fellow councillors chose him to be Richmond County's Deputy Warden. In doing so, Diggdon eclipsed fellow nominee and District Three councillor Melanie Sampson for the Deputy Warden's post, which he will hold for the coming year. 

With five new councillors around the table and the conversations between those councillors having started well before the swearing-in ceremony on October 26, Diggdon was enthusiastic when asked about the future direction for Richmond County as a whole and District Two in particular.

"We want to go down our own path," Diggdon declared. 

"It was time for a change, and it was time to make change right across [the county]. I think the residents of Richmond County felt that, and it was evident that they wanted a clear path and a new path. So I'm happy to be part of that group, and all we can do is move forward, one day at a time, and one step at a time."

In his closing remarks, Diggdon thanked his family and friends and all those who have been working on his first-ever municipal election campaign. He also thanked the residents of Richmond County, particularly District Two, for giving him the opportunity to serve on their behalf.

"I am proud and happy to be sitting in this seat," Diggdon beamed.

"I will not disappoint, and I will be straightforward. You may not always like the answer, but it will be the honest one."