Reconsider Huron Perth election decision incumbent asks DFO

Thursday, December 5, 2013

by SUSAN MANN

David Murray has asked the Dairy Farmers of Ontario board to reconsider its decision declaring Henry Wydeven the winner in the election to represent farmers from Huron and Perth counties on the board.

Murray, the incumbent who has been on the board since 2006, lost the election to Wydeven of St. Marys by two votes. John Van Dyk of Tavistock finished third.

The mail in ballot was held in October while the votes were counted Nov. 12. The board declared Wydeven elected at its regular meeting at the end of November after it received a request to reconsider counting some late ballots.  The three candidates had until Dec. 4 to submit a request for a recount.

Graham Lloyd, Dairy Farmers general counsel and communications director, says the request is on the board’s agenda for the Dec. 9-10 board meeting. None of the candidates submitted a request for a recount.

As for what happens to the installation of the election’s winner, Lloyd says “it’s one of the issues we have to turn our attention to.” Board members are elected to four-year terms that start after the end of the Dairy Farmers annual meeting in January. BF