Crossfield’s Oct. 19 byelection is quickly approaching, and residents will have a chance to meet the four candidates at an upcoming forum.
The forum will take place Sept. 22 at the Crossfield and District Community Centre and will also be live-streamed on the Town of Crossfield’s YouTube page. The four candidates vying for two vacant Town council seats will answer questions submitted by residents via the live stream, email or asked in person.
“Each candidate will be allowed three minutes to provide a brief introduction of themselves and their platform,” said Merel Jarvis, substitute returning officer. “As far as the question and answer period goes, all questions are resident-submitted.”
The candidates running in the byelection are Kim Harris, Jo Lambert, Justin Gustafson and Mike Perry. A fifth candidate, Frank Wallace, dropped out of the race for health reasons.
The byelection was triggered following the resignations of Couns. Beth Gabriel and Liz Grace at a special Town council meeting June 22. At that meeting, Gabriel and Grace each read aloud letters of resignation that cited a “dysfunctional and toxic” relationship between council and the municipality's administrative team.
Bob Rodgers, principal of Crossfield Elementary School, will moderate the forum. Rodgers said the forum is an important opportunity for residents to get familiar with the people contending for votes in October.
“I believe these forums, at their best, are a clash and challenging of ideas, as opposed to one of personalities,” Rodgers said.
As moderator, Rodgers said his role is to ensure candidates have the space to feel comfortable and present themselves in the best way possible.
“That allows the voters to also see the candidate in the best possible light,” he said.
Due to COVID-19, space at the forum is limited. To ensure social distancing measures can be implemented, Jarvis said there will be room for 80 residents to attend. Additionally, masks are recommended and sanitizing protocols will be in place.
“We are following all of the protocols to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance,” Jarvis said. “There is an allowance of up to 100 people for an event but we need to allow for the current council, the candidates, audio and visual workers and Town staff.”
The deadline to register to attend the forum in-person is Sept. 18. Residents interested in attending can sign up through the Town’s Eventbrite listing. Jarvis said if capacity had not been filled, there may be an extension to ensure anyone who would like to attend has the chance to do so.
Jarvis said attendees could ask questions in person or through a written submission at the event. Anyone who is unable to attend the forum can submit a question via the YouTube live stream during the forum, or in advance of the event by email. Questions can be emailed to [email protected] and must be submitted prior to 8 p.m. on Sept. 22.
The municipal byelection will take place Oct. 19, with one polling station at the Crossfield and District Community Centre. Voting will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advanced voting will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Town of Crossfield Administration Office.
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @Jay_Strickz
