Following the passing of Division 8 Councillor Al Sacuta, Rocky View County (RVC) will be accepting nominations for potential candidates for a new Division 8 representative on Oct. 19, between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
“Anyone who wants to represent the residents of Bearspaw in County discussions should consider running in this byelection,” said Jennifer Sinclair, public information officer with RVC. “This councillor will be representing Division 8 and bringing the perspective of those residents to the County.”
The rockyview.ca website contains information to determine a candidate’s eligibility, and Sinclair “strongly encourages” anyone interested in representing Division 8 visit the website to learn more about the election and the nomination process.
“It’s important for individuals to understand the job and its requirements, and that information can all be found on our website,” she said.
Interested candidates can visit the website to download a PDF of the nomination paperwork, learn about councillor remuneration and benefits, and find out how to begin campaigning. The site also contains links to official legislation and guidelines provided from Municipal Affairs.
According to the Local Authorities Election Act, candidates with campaigns that are not self-funded or where contributions or expenses exceed $10,000 are required to submit a disclosure statement to the County. Potential candidates are reminded to track and record all expenses and campaign contributions. More information on campaign contributions can be found on RVC’s website.
“We had two candidates run for this division in the 2013 election, but it’s not possible to gauge the number of potential candidates who may run in the byelection,” Sinclair said. “It’s really up to the individual to decide if they wish to run.”
According to Sinclair, a total of 1,375 votes were cast in the 2013 election, which Al Sacuta won with 739 votes. Eric Lowther, executive director of Rocky View 2020, received 636 votes. An official list of candidates for the 2015 byelection will be released on Oct. 20.
“The more people who vote, the more likely it is that the successful candidate will be representing the overall opinion of the residents in that area,” she said.
Residents of Division 8 are encouraged to look for election signage throughout the area, sign up for the Safe and Sound program to receive the latest official information and watch for advertisements in the Rocky View Weekly, Sinclair added.
Byelection voting day will be held on Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with advance voting available on Nov. 6 and 14. Outreach voting, for mobility-impaired residents, can be arranged by appointment with the municipal clerk on Nov. 6. Voting locations are still being confirmed.
For more information or to download a nomination package, visit rockyview.ca
