If the number of candidates is an indication, there is strong interest in the upcoming municipal elections in the six municipalities Respect serves.
There are 15 people seeking election to the mayor or reeve position in their respective communities, including already-acclaimed Bonnyville mayor Elisa Brosseau. The County of St. Paul has four candidates vying for the top job, including incumbent reeve Glen Ockerman.
The M.D. of Bonnyville and the City of Cold Lake follow with three candidates each, while the towns of St. Paul and Elk Point have two mayoral aspirants each.
Meanwhile, there are 76 candidates seeking election to 34 available council seats. Every ward of the rural municipalities (St. Paul County and the M.D. of Bonnyville) has at least two contestants, and all four of the town/city councils have more candidates than seats.
Competition for the mayor and reeve positions might bode well for voter turnout. When current Cold Lake mayor Craig Copeland was acclaimed in 2021, turnout for council elections dipped to 25 per cent—the lowest in the region that year.
This year there are three people vying for mayor, including well-known candidates Sherri Buckle and Bob Mattice. Heightened interest in the mayoral race might positively affect turnout for the council election. Less-known candidate Ty Mikolas, also running for mayor, has run a relatively low-key campaign.
Incumbents Maureen Miller in St. Paul and Parrish Tung in Elk Point are not standing for reelection. Miller was acclaimed in 2021, while Tung won Elk Point by one vote over Terri Hampson.
Each of those towns has two candidates for mayor: Glenn Anderson and Sylvie Smyl in St. Paul while Hampson tries again in Elk Point, this time against Wanda Lynn Cochrane.
The rural races are typically where the electors are most engaged and turnout is strongest. The M.D. boasted 52 per cent turnout in 2021, with current reeve Barry Kalinski challenging then-incumbent Greg Sawchuk. Both are on the ballot again this year, joined by Darcy Skarsen to create a three-way race.
The County of St. Paul had just over 50 per cent of voters cast a ballot in 2021, when Ockerman defeated Yvonne Weinmeyer. Both are running again, with Kevin Wirsta and Reginald Lamothe also challenging.
Two of six incumbent mayors, and five of 34 incumbent councillors, are women. Six of 15 mayor/reeve candidates, and 11 of 76 council candidates, are women.
Municipal elections will be held across Alberta on Monday, October 20.
