The native of the Curling area had a surprisingly strong showing in Tuesday’s municipal election, taking home 2,933 votes to lead all 18 candidates seeking the six city councillor seats alongside the mayor.
He had nearly 200 votes more than his nearest challenger.
“I’m just happy to be one of the six,” Griffin said modestly after accompanying mayor-elect Jim Parsons to city hall after the results were in late Tuesday night.
Griffin said he had a great campaign team that carried him to the big win. He said his familiarity as the city’s deputy fire chief and as a trainer with the Corner Brook Royals senior hockey team probably never hurt.
The new city council will vote on it after they take office, but recent tradition in Corner Brook has been the candidate with the most votes is named deputy mayor.
The thought of being deputy mayor is a bit overwhelming for Griffin.
“If I am the new deputy mayor, I will wear that on my heart and hope to do Corner Brook residents proud,” he said. “It tells me a lot of people have faith in me and I just hope I can live up to it.”
It was also an emotional night for broadcaster Lenny Benoit, who had to wait for the last of 37 polls to find out he had come up just 49 votes of being elected to the sixth and final seat on council.
“It was amazing to watch it,” said Benoit. “There were so many good people running. I am so thankful of the support that was out there from people who thought I might make a good councillor.”
