Ila Boehm was named Acting Mayor of Carrot River in November after Bob Gagne resigned as Mayor. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Boehm Wins By-Election

Boehm removes ‘acting’ from mayoral title after Carrot River by-election victory

May 9, 2020 | 12:52 PM

“Overwhelmed.”

That’s how Ila Boehm described her reaction when finding out she was the new Mayor of the Town of Carrot River after the town’s by-election was held on Friday, May 8.

Boehm was the Acting Mayor since November when former Mayor Bob Gagne resigned from the position. Boehm won the by-election over Brock Irvine by a 65 to 45 vote. She said with the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration did a great job in making sure those who came to the polls were safe.

“You kind of wonder how many people are actually going to go out, and make their wishes known,” Boehm told northeastNOW. “And we had a pretty good turnout for a by-election this late in the term.”

Boehm said throughout the campaign, there wasn’t much that knocked down her confidence to eventually become Mayor of Carrot River.

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“The only part that was concerning me at all, and this is 2020 I realize, was the fact that Brock is a man, and I am obviously not,” she said. “And that was really the only thing that concerned me because there still is some hesitancy about women, I think, my opinion only.”

She added that now having the “acting” portion of her title dropped; it does add a bit more comfortability to her job. Boehm said she is reminded of a portion of a speech from a celebrity who accepted an award.

“The first thing actually that popped into my head was the person up on that stage said ‘they like me, they really really like me’,” she laughed. “Yes, it was a great confidence booster, I feel really good and I’m very thankful that the people have given me this chance to be the actual Mayor.”

Now that she is officially Mayor, the 14th of the Town, Boehm becomes the first female to hold that position. She said she is very grateful to have the opportunity to be in that position.

“It’s a short term, less than a year,” Boehm said. “But I really hope that it will open up to more women trying for the position.”

As for what is next on the agenda for Boehm, she said it’s a matter of keeping the town on budget and getting the projects done that they have set out. She said keeping Carrot River centered on being healthy and well is also a main priority.

Boehm has been on Carrot River Town Council since October 2016. Since then, she has served on numerous boards including the Pasquia Trust, Carrot River Fire and Rescue Committee, and Carrot River Medical Clinic Board. However, the past year has been a difficult one for Boehm as her son lost his short battle with brain cancer in July of 2019. Boehm said she was in a difficult place at that time and her fellow Councillors help get her through that.

“I really value every single person that sits at that table with me,” Boehm said. “And over the last number of months, sitting in the ‘comfy chair’ as I like to call it, I’ve watched, and every individual in that room brings something special and unique to the table, and I am honoured that I get to take their advice and that they placed their confidence in me.”

It won’t be long before residents in Carrot River head to the polls again as the next municipal election is set for November of 2020. Boehm said she won’t be running at that time as she and her husband are recently retired and would like to spend a few winters in the sunshine. She said once they are back for good, running for Council, and even Mayor will be on the table again.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6