The results are in, and Katelyn Toney is the latest Chinook School Sub-Division Four seat holder. She says the community support leading up to her election was an unexpected bonus.

"The support from the community was overwhelming," she said. "There's not usually a huge voter turnout for school board school trustee levels in elections, let alone by-elections, and the amount of people who showed up to vote for myself or Brent is phenomenal."

Toney was elected against running-mate Brent Castle 163-94. The rancher and mother-of-four from the Tompkins area now becomes the trustee for Wymark, Gull Lake and Tompkins, as well as seven Hutterian schools.

"I know there's a lot of anger and frustration pointed towards the decision makers when times get tough," she said. "I hope to help make decisions in the best interest of the kids and I also hope to be a voice to stand up for the decisions that we as board members have to make, and help people to understand that we are doing the best we can with everything we have."

The sub-division four seat became available when Bernie Ford passed away last December. Toney will begin her position on the board immediately.

"I think my people skills and the fact that I am so involved in the community level and the school level, having children, I think the connection I can hopefully bring to the board with the constituency is something I really look forward to," she said.

"I think they're amazing people, and I'm excited to learn from them and work with them, and challenge some of the ideas they have, too."