County councillors have scheduled Sept. 7 as the day to elect a new councillor for Division 7.
The by-election is being held to fill the vacancy left by Gerald Nanninga, who died in a motor vehicle collision in June. The by-election, in accordance with the Municipal Government Act, has to take place within 90 days of the vacancy. However, 90 days following the vacancy for County Council would put the election on a Sunday.
“We have a really good council right now, and anyone who is interested in running in the by-election should be community-minded, and it helps if they have life experience,” said Reeve Bill Lee. “Division 7 is probably our biggest agricultural area in the County, and it’s the most progressive area for sure – some of our bigger farmers come out of Division 7.”
It’s always positive when an election is held to fill a vacancy, Lee said. As a ratepayer himself, he said he would like to see several people come forward, because then he knows he has a choice.
Every councillor is his or her own person, and it’s impossible to fill the shoes of another councillor, because everyone has their own style of doing things, he said.
“Gerald was very knowledgeable in the technical aspects of agriculture, and even though he was not currently farming, he was very informed. He also grew up in the community he represented, which also helped. Hopefully, we’ll get some interest in the position.”
Lee said he really encourages residents of Division 7 to get involved.
“(Being a councillor) can be frustrating at times, but it can also be very rewarding when you can help make a difference.”
Nomination day for the by-election will take place Aug. 10 between 10 a.m. and noon. Advertising for nomination day will take place two weeks prior to the day. Council also passed a resolution to set up an advance vote for the by-election, and the returning officer must determine the days and hours for when the advance vote is to be held.
Councillors readily accepted the recommendation from County administration to appoint Linda West as returning officer.
The most recent County election was held the third Monday in October of last year. Nanninga was acclaimed in Division 7, said County manager Mark Oberg.
“It’s never a good situation to have no representation in a division,” Oberg said. “We’re looking forward to the election, and we anticipate people stepping forward to fill this role. We encourage people to check into what it means to be a councillor, and to seriously consider it.”
If no one was to put in his or her name, the position would again be advertised. Legislatively, Oberg said he isn’t sure what would happen, but he wants County residents to know the municipality is serious about filling this post.
Every division has people who are more interested in municipal politics, he said, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are willing to make the commitment. Being a municipal councillor is a significant commitment, but the positives far outweigh the negatives.
“There are always people who have an opinion and who are willing to express it, but it’s different than stepping up and being a councillor,” he said.
To fill this role, it will take someone with an open mind, who is able to take in a lot of information, and who is good with people – an all around good person, Oberg said. It has to be someone who is able to listen to the concerns of others and take them into consideration and not judge people for their comments.
Part of the job description is the fact councillors, when they make a decision, don’t make it for their division alone, they make it for the good of the entire County, and that’s a fact of which people are often unaware, Oberg said.
“Gerald did a very good job, and we anticipate the next person will do a good job, but perhaps in a different way.”
