New Nanaimo city councillor Sheryl Armstrong will take a seat at the council table in her first public meeting next week.
Armstrong, who had a decisive win in the City of Nanaimo byelection this month, took her oath of office Tuesday during an invite-only ceremony at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.
Armstrong was declared the highest vote getter last week by chief election officer Sheila Gurrie, after pulling in 3,611 votes, or 49 per cent. She was followed by Sacia Burton who received 858 votes.
Being sworn in was “kind of overwhelming” for Armstrong, who said a large portion voted for her, she doesn’t take that lightly and really has to do her due diligence and homework.
She’s been reading the Community Charter and official community plan and was in the gallery at the most recent council meeting. While she’s attended the meetings before, she said as soon as she knew she had the job, she thought it was important to get down and see what the issues are because she has to slip into the position right away.
This week, Armstrong participates in an orientation day and strategic meeting.
“So I am getting my feet wet very fast,” she said.
Armstrong plans to put her name forward again for the 2018 general election, and sees her current term as a good learning curve and good opportunity to see what she’s getting into.
“I’d like to thank all my supporters and I’m going to give it 100 per cent to try and make sure I retain the faith in them so when it comes time for the next election that I still have that support and hopefully I’ll have garnered more support by the actions I take,” she said.
In a press release, Mayor Bill McKay welcomed Armstrong on behalf of council.
“While getting up to speed is a monumental task, Coun. Armstrong has already shown her eagerness to learn, search information where necessary, and engage the community. I look forward, as does all of council, to making this transition time as comfortable for her as possible and wish her the best in this very new and different spectrum of public service,” he said.
Armstrong’s first council meeting is this Monday (July 24).