The Cape Breton Regional Municipality elected its first female mayor in 2020, but you won’t see Amanda MacDougall-Merrill’s name on the ballot for the upcoming municipal election on October 19th.
MacDougall-Merrill says she hit the ground running four years ago expecting to have a healthy rapport with the community. But she says negative public comments started wearing her down.
Her son Emmett lives with Down’s Syndrome, and she says upset voters never let her forget about his disability. The mayor says she never expected to receive glowing praises for all of her decisions at City Hall. Meanwhile, she says it’s surprising to be on the receiving end of insults about her family when unpopular decisions are made in the council chambers.
There are nine candidates looking for her job later this month — all men. CKOA News talked to MacDougall-Merrill. She hopes to see more versatility on the candidate’s list. She adds whoever wins will have their work cut out for them.
