Denise Dumas will become Creston’s next Mayor, continuing a family legacy in local politics that spans three generations.
Dumas defeated Neil Farstad in Saturday’s municipal election, receiving 1,231 votes to Farstad’s 459, according to the town’s preliminary results.
Dumas said she’s excited and humbled by the result.
“I’m very grateful for the trust that the Creston community members have put in me, and reflective as well,” said Dumas.
“I’m the third generation to serve as mayor. My grandfather was a reeve when Creston was a village, and then my father was mayor, and now me as mayor, so third generation, which is just humbling.”
Dumas’s father Ron Toyota served as the town’s mayor for 14 years across four terms until October 2022, while her grandfather Tak Toyota served on council for six terms.
Dumas, who was elected to council in 2022, said she did not initially imagine herself becoming mayor.
She recalled looking around her father’s campaign office years before he retired and thinking she might be interested in politics when he stepped away.
“But I didn’t think beyond serving on council,” said Dumas. “But these last four years on council, I’ve been loving this work so much and recognizing that this is the job for me.”
She said she is looking forward to working with the incoming council and the days ahead.
For now, however, she wants to take a little time to rest after a lengthy campaign.
“This whole process has been…It’s like the longest job interview ever, so I am ready to take a couple days off.”
Dumas said she also wants to finish the current term well and recognize the work of outgoing Mayor Arnold DeBoon.
“We have a housing corporation meeting this week so just looking forward to, to finishing up with current council and doing things well and honoring our current council and honoring Mayor DeBoon. I’m just very grateful for his service,” she said.
She also thanked Creston residents for voting, supporting her campaign and taking the time to speak with her during the election.
“Thank you for coming out and voting, and thank you for your support. Thanks for answering the door and talking to me and asking questions. I’m just very grateful.”
Council result breakdown
Voter turnout in Creston was roughly 34.6 per cent, with preliminary results showing 1,734 ballots were cast out of 5,038 eligible voters.
Tanya Wall led the council race with 939 votes (54.2 per cent), followed by Ferd Schmidt with 858 (49.5 per cent) and Carolyn Hawton with 856 (49.4 per cent). Megan Holland secured 845 votes (48.9 per cent), Judy Germann received 819 (47.2 per cent), while Norm Eisler received 804 votes (46.4 per cent).
The remaining candidates were Monique Arès with 711 votes, Keith Baldwin with 644, Sandra Heykamp with 627, George Longpre with 613, Danette Polzin with 604 and Rob Krausz with 395.
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