The big day might not be for almost five months, but it is an election year for municipalities and school boards across Saskatchewan.
During this week’s regular council meeting, council approved several motions pertaining to the upcoming municipal and school board general elections planned for Oct. 24, 2012.
For example, city clerk-solicitor Myron Gulka-Tiechko shall be appointed returning officer for the municipal election, as well as associate returning officer for those portions of the Prairie South School Division elections and Holy Trinity Roman Catholic School Division elections that are within Moose Jaw city limits.
This election will be a first for Moose Jaw and the province of Saskatchewan, as it will be the first election in which the winners shall serve terms of four years, as opposed to the current term length of three years.
So far in Moose Jaw, almost all members of council are not yet prepared to announce whether or not they’ll run in the upcoming election (at least that’s what they told the Times-Herald on Thursday). The only councillor who has confirmed his intentions in the election is Coun. Fraser Tolmie, who confirmed back in February he would run as an incumbent candidate.
“I look at it as an opportunity to grow this city,” he said, adding he sees many of his goals from the last election (i.e., addressing housing issues, and ensuring the multiplex facilities are viable) have gained momentum over the past three years and he wants to see that continue.
Tolmie also told the Times-Herald he looks forward to helping the community progress in new ways, assuming he wins in the October election and serves another term — this one being four years long.
The incumbent candidate said he looks forward to the election campaign. In the meantime, he said, he still has a role to play in city government over the months ahead.
For all those planning to run in the upcoming election, legislation has changed to lengthen the amount of time for advanced polling and mail-in ballots. Therefore, the nomination date is set for Sept. 19 this year, with the city clerk office accepting nomination forms as of early September.
Gulka-Tiechko said anyone could declare his or her candidacy before nomination forms are available, although it won’t be official.
Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-1265.
