The Town of Crossfield's Oct. 19 byelection rendered an overwhelming victory for Kim Harris, while a tiebreaker was needed to determine second place between Justin Gustafson and Jo Lambert. Ultimately, Crossfield voters elected Harris and Gustafson to fill two vacant seats on Town council.
Harris, a community developer for the City of Airdrie, received 382 votes – 48 per cent of the total.
“I’m looking forward to helping Crossfield get to the next step,” she said. “I’m excited to work with the other councillors and residents, to engage with them and help us move forward.”
Harris was the only candidate to create a website and Facebook page during the campaign and credited her victory to an emphasis on social media, as well as her transparency when talking to residents.
“I think [voters] were looking for someone who was willing to engage with them and listen to what they’re thinking and some of their ideas on improving Crossfield, and that’s exactly what I did during my campaign,” she said. "I know we couldn’t do a lot of door-knocking due to COVID, and I didn’t want to do that so I focused on the social media campaign, which worked out all right.”
While Harris received nearly half of the vote, the other two candidates – Gustafson and Lambert – were neck-and-neck, ending election night with 194 votes apiece.
To decide the seat, Town of Crossfield officials referred to section 99 of the Local Elections Authorities Act. According to that section, in the event two candidates for any office receive the same number of votes, "the returning officer shall write the names of those candidates separately on blank sheets of paper of equal size and of the same colour and texture, and after folding the sheets of paper in a uniform manner and so that the names are concealed, shall deposit them in a receptacle and direct some person to withdraw one of the sheets, and the returning officer shall declare the candidate whose name appears on the withdrawn sheet to have one more vote than the other candidate."
Gustafson’s name was drawn, meaning he will join Harris on Town council.
“I’m excited to join that team and keep the progress going in Crossfield,” he said. “They said it was a tie, and I was a little shocked how they broke the tie, but it only makes sense – you have to do it somehow.”
Gustafson said he felt the three candidates had similar platforms with a focus on transparency and accountability, which might be why the vote between him and Lambert was so close.
He added Crossfield residents brought up similar concerns throughout the campaign.
“They wanted to see some good accountability with the decisions council was making and how they relate to the community,” he said. “They wanted to be able to trust council on the decisions they were making and be able to hold administration accountable for their decisions as well.”
Having run unsuccessfully for mayor in 2017, Gustafson said he’s most looking forward to giving back to the community.
“Being on council is a great opportunity and responsibility to be a part of the ongoing growth [of the town] and helping build the future of a community that’s given me and my family so much,” he said. “I consider everyone in Crossfield a neighbour and I hope to do the best I possibly can for the voters who were voicing their concerns.
“I was able to squeak in – it’s a different way to end a tie – but hopefully I can live up to their expectations and make a difference in Crossfield.”
Lambert said she was disappointed to lose the election, but wished Harris and Gustafson well as they join council.
“Having been in municipal government for many years, I know that’s how it works when there’s a tie,” she said. “It’s very seldom there is a tie, but when a tie does happen, that’s what they do – pick out of a hat.
“Of course you’re disappointed if you set out to do a thing and it doesn’t happen, but I’m pleased for Harris and Gustafson. I wish them all the luck in the world.”
Even though they withdrew their candidacy early on, Mike Perry and Frank Wallace each received a handful of votes – 18 and nine, respectively.
Mayor Jo Tennant said she is excited to work with the two new councillors.
“Thank you to all the residents that came out and voted. I look forward to working with the two new councillors and a full council for the last year of this term,” she said in a statement.
An organizational meeting of Town council will be held Oct. 26 at the Crossfield United Church to swear in the new councillors. The meeting begins at 8 p.m. and is open to the public.
Crossfield’s byelection was triggered in June by the resignations of former Couns. Liz Grace and Beth Gabriel. The two read their resignations aloud during a special meeting, citing a dysfunctional and toxic relationship between council and administration.
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
