There are now two empty Clyde council seats that need to be filled after Coun. Bob Gault tendered his resignation last week.
At a special council meeting on June 26, the three remaining councillors accepted Gault’s resignation and set up the details of the byelection to fill the seats vacated by Gault and Diana Vosseler.
Gault said his decision to resign came in part due to Vosseler’s June 1 resignation.
“Coun. Vosseler moved to Westlock, so she had to quit, and I’m planning on moving in the near future,” he said.
“So it was going to mean two elections if I didn’t do it now, and that’s a little bit too costly.”
Mayor Wayne Wilcox said Gault had been talking about moving for a while, and had made up his mind that it would be best for the village if he resigned at the same time as Vosseler, so that there would only be one byelection needed instead of two several months apart.
“I had to agree with him there because it saves a lot of hassle and expense for the village,” Wilcox said.
In leaving the village council, Gault said he found the experience to be much different from the other councils he had sat on in the past. He said the rules of councils had changed and he had to get familiar with the new ones.
Wilcox said losing two councillors in the span of a month will be a bit of a challenge, but is not something that can’t be overcome.
“They’re both going to be sadly missed, but council will carry on,” he said.
Things will be tighter for the remaining three councillors, but recent cooperation bodes well for the next few weeks, he added.
“We’re starting to get things together and working together a little bit better, so I’m hoping things continue the way they’re going, that everybody’s willing to work together and get everything done for the betterment of the village,” he said.
Byelection details
The byelection is scheduled for Aug. 30.
Anyone interested in running must declare his or her nomination by Aug. 2. “We’ll probably have a few people step up to the plate and say, ‘OK, I’d like to run,’” Wilcox said. “I’m hoping we get some good people on there and keep things going.”
There have been two advanced polls set up. The dates are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Aug. 19-20.
All voting will take place at the village office. For more details, or to submit your nomination, please contact interim CAO and returning officer Annette Schwab at 780-348-5356.
