Heather Wright/The Independent

A new and notably younger council will likely spur new ideas in the Town of Petrolia.

That after Monday’s election brought in 23 year-old Ethan Brown and 35 year-old Miranda Cole along with newcomer Greg Nemcek to sit along side incumbents Liz Welsh, Chad Hyatt and Bill Clark.

Welsh landed at the top of the polls, garnering 1,319 votes, Cole collected 1,256, Hyatt 1,232, Nemcek 1,160, Brown 1,115 and Clark 875.

Cole said she was “living on Cloud Nine right now.

“I’m honestly shocked, and I’m feeling very grateful that people trust me and I’m looking forward to learning and serving our town,” Cole tells The Independent.

Ethan Brown is another first-time councillor-elect. “I was just beyond excited and humbled by the faith the town has put into me, and (I’m) just grateful have been given this opportunity and and the chance to serve the community,” he says.

Both Brown and Cole believe they’ll be able to open up the lines of communication between the town and younger residents. Cole wants to make sure “that our residents feel heard and that we make sure that we acknowledge their concerns and questions. I think social media is an important tool, and I I would love to see some more open communication between council and the public,” she says.

“I think we might have an easier time connecting or doing some outreach to some of those younger generations than we were able to before,” Brown adds. “At least that’s sort of what I’m hoping and excited about.”

Greg Nemcek, who will join Cole and Brown as a new face on council, says he’s “humbled” to be elected. “It wasn’t easy. It was very nervous through the whole campaign, but I’m truly humbled. You know, words can’t express the way I feel right now. It’s great. I’m looking forward to working with the council.”

The new additions will make council better, Nemcek says. “It’s going to bring new ideas. It’s going to bring a new perspective, and I think that’s going to be good for Petrolia.”

Cole agrees adding “We have some really great ideas too that maybe not an older generation might not see. And I also think that the older generation has a lot of ideas that maybe we can learn from. I think having a diverse council with all different age groups is a really great thing.”