Story by Paul Bradley - Photo: Ethan Haslett

The 2012 municipal elections have come and gone and a number of new mayors have been charged with leading communities in the western valley.

Seven new mayors were elected or acclaimed Monday night, May 14,  while just four incumbent mayors are coming back for another term.

Returning to their roles are Bev Forbes in Millville and Art Slipp of Woodstock who were both acclaimed.

Gary Thomas in Centreville and Troy Stone of Bath were re-elected with the election in Bath being decided by just four votes.

Of the new mayors in the valley Hartland's Craig Melanson had the biggest margin of victory he garnered 72 percent support.

Elaine English in Canterbury was voted in with 59 per cent support, while Perth-Andover's Terrence Ritchie and Florenceville-Bristol's Karl Curtis won with 57 percent margins.

The other new mayors elected were Alexis Fenner in Plaster Rock, and Nancy Cronkhite in Nackawic.

Meanwhile,  Lance Graham was acclaimed Meductic's new leader.

CJ104 Intern Reporter Ethan Haslett spent some time at Monday's polls asking voters why they took time out of their schedules to vote.

Here's what a few of them had to say.