Posted By Brandi Cramer

Tanya Vrebosch-Merry is excited, nervous and ready.

The 27-year-old will take over the seat vacated by former councillor Maureen Boldt after council voted unanimously to give it to Vrebosch-Merry, who placed 11th in the 2006 municipal election.

“I am just happy I am getting a chance to sit on council,” she said.

“Everyone wishes they would get on on election night, but I am more than happy to get on and honoured to get a chance to do it for three years.”

Council’s decision to forego a byelection is one the newest councillor agreed with — for more than the obvious reasons.

A byelection could cost the city more than $50,000, particularly if votes were tabulated electronically, Coun. Sarah Campbell said at Monday’s meeting.

“Fifty-thousand might not do much, but it may fix a portion of a road, update playground equipment — it can do something,” Vrebosch-Merry said. “Fifty-thousand is basically a salary for one person.”

Vrebosch-Merry plans to utilize her resources — councillors — and a piece of advice given to her by deputy mayor Peter Chirico while on the campaign trail: “Just breathe.”

“My plan is to go in, listen and learn,” she said. “It doesn’t mean I won’t voice my opinion but for the first bit I will listen and learn and get my bearings.”

It comes as no surprise to Bill Vrebosch that his daughter would be involved in politics.

“I think it has almost been grown into her,” said the 34-year veteran politician who ran unsuccessfully in the recent provincial election.

“She has shown interest in it for the last 10 years and when she got to the age of 19 to 20 she was coming to council, coming to conferences and questioning . . . I said ‘You know what? Some day she will do this.’”

In 2006, when Vrebosch-Merry ran for council, she had no job, no employment insurance and “was hanging on by a thread.”

The youngest of three siblings, she watched her family move south to get profitable employment.

But things are looking up, she said.

Since January 2007 she has worked as a front-line intake worker and administrative assistant with Low Income People Involvement of Nipissing. She also married Cameron Merry in October and is in the market for a home.

As a graduate of Canadore College’s recreation and leadership services program, and with work experience on the Mattawa-Bonfield Economic Development Corp. as an economic development assistant, she believes she has an “eclectic background.”

Vrebosch-Merry has been doing her homework, watching council meetings broadcast on TV every Monday night.

Once a happy renter who couldn’t fathom buying a house because of the accompanying tax bill, the soon-to-be homeowner said she has learned a lot.

“There is a huge infrastructure deficit that needs to be looked at . . . There is a gap that needs to be fixed and I find this council is trying to rebuild North Bay,” she said.

Mayor Vic Fedeli is happy with the new blood on council.

“We always talk about the future and doing things for our youth. Now we have an absolute representative of youth on council.”