December 7, 2011
Townships set
by-election
by Kay McQuade
‘Tis the season for by-elections as residents of Head, Clara, Maria
will head to the polls on February 13, 2012 to elect a replacement for
Councillor Ed Aiston.
As he announced last month, Aiston resigned for personal reasons,
effective December 2, leaving townships council with one of its five
council seats vacant.
The Municipal Elections Act allows council to fill the vacant seat by
appointment or by-election, and council voted Friday to hold a
by-election on February 13 to let the voters decide on the new
councillor.
Clerk Melinda Reith estimated the cost of the election to be between
$3,000 and $4,000.
However, she said the cost may be reduced by updating the “forms,
policies and procedures” set up for the municipal election in 2010.
That election was not required as all five members of council were
returned by acclamation.
In fact, Reith noted that the municipality has not had to spend money
on an election since before 2004.
“In a vein of accountability to the electors, the expense is
justified,” she said in a report to council.
The deadline for nominations for the by-election will be December
30, giving ratepayers 28 days to determine if they are interested in
running and time to submit their nomination papers.
In the event there is only one candidate, an election would not be held
and the candidate would be acclaimed.
In his final remarks to council and members of the public, Aiston
“thanked the ratepayers of Head, Clara, Maria for letting me serve.”
“I’ve enjoyed most of it.”
He then addressed the clerk, “I’d like to thank Melinda for her
support; we have had disagreements in the past but always been civil.”
He thanked his fellow councillors for their work and “hoped they’d find
their way through these difficulties.”
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