Nomination packages for the October 15 municipal election have been received and the deadline for filing them passed as of 4 pm, September 9.
City of Powell River has an election for mayor and six councillors, all of which will be contested.
Seeking the mayor’s office for the next four years are outgoing city councillors Maggie Hathaway and CaroleAnn Leishman, as well as Ron Woznow.
There are 18 candidates running for the six city councillor positions, and they are, in alphabetical order: Earl Almeida, incumbent George Doubt, incumbent Cindy Elliott, Bronwyn Gisborne, Glenn Holstine, Luke Holuboch, Jason Hygaard, Trina Isakson, Cathy Korolek, Eli Leyland, Robin Murray, incumbent Jim Palm, Todd Phillips, Michelle Riddle, incumbent Rob Southcott, Evan Stocker, Roger Whittaker and Jen Zacher.
Each elected official gets one vote in council decisions, but the mayor has the ability to determine council’s agenda when elected officials meet.
The nomination papers for each of the candidates have been filed on the city’s website and can be found here: powellriver.ca/pages/elections.
Chief election officer for City of Powell River is Chris Jackson, who serves as the city’s corporate officer. Deputy election officer is Jessica Lefort, who serves as the city’s deputy corporate officer. Questions can be directed to election2022@powellriver.ca, or by phoning 604.485.8603.
qathet Regional District
qathet Regional District (qRD) has five electoral districts, with contests in four of the five.
Running for the Electoral Area A seat are Todd Habekost, Jason Lennox and Mace Mowbray. In Electoral Area B, seeking election are Alan Rebane and incumbent Mark Gisborne.
In Electoral Area C, the candidates are incumbent Clay Brander and Cody Hughes.
In Electoral Area D (Texada Island), nominated are Rebecca Hathaway, incumbent Sandy McCormick and Tom Read.
Incumbent Andrew Fall has been acclaimed in Electoral Area E (Lasqueti Island).
City of Powell River is also part of qathet Regional District, with two directors being appointed from elected councillors. The two city directors have four votes and three votes respectively when there is a weighted vote being considered.
Nomination papers for each candidate running for seats at the qRD table can be found at the regional district’s website: qathet.ca/services/corporate-administration/elections-aaps-other-voting/election-2022/candidates/.
School District 47
School District 47 has five trustee seats, with six people running for the positions. Candidates include incumbent Rob Hill, incumbent Dale Lawson, Maureen Mason, incumbent Jaclyn Miller, Scott Randolph and Kirsten Van’t Schip.
This year’s city ballot will have an assent vote [referendum] question pertaining to a proposed new fire hall for the city. The question will be: Are you in favour of the City of Powell River adopting Fire Hall/Emergency Services Facility loan authorization bylaw 2695, 2022, to authorize the borrowing of a sum not to exceed $7.5 million over a maximum term of 20 years, in order to finance the construction of a new fire hall/emergency services facility at the city’s public works yard property located at 7160 Duncan Street?
Those interested in volunteering as a scrutineer of the assent vote can let the election office know and they will provide an application.
Those interested in being a city election worker can submit a resume, along with a brief cover letter, letting the city know about the election worker’s interest and background. The information can be emailed to cjackson@powellriver.ca. Submissions will remain confidential and the elections office will be in touch with those selected for interviews.
In terms of important dates in the future, mail ballot voting packages will be available on September 30. There will be three advance voting days, on October 5, 8 and 12, with general voting day on October 15. Voting will close at 8 pm on that day and announcement of election results will be as soon as possible after the vote closes.
In terms of qathet Regional District, the chief election officer is Michelle Jones, who also serves as the regional district’s corporate officer. For questions, the email address is vote@qathet.ca and the phone number is 604.485.2260.
Voters will have an opportunity to read more about the candidates seeking election in the upcoming print issues of the Peak, and at prpeak.com.
Powell River Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring an all candidates forum on October 3, with the time and location to be announced. Townsite Ratepayers Society will be sponsoring a mayoral candidate town hall meeting on September 26, from 4 to 6 pm at Dwight Hall.
Read all Peak election coverage at prpeak.com/2022-civic-election.
