Municipal elections for communities in Saskatchewan will take place Oct. 24 for towns and villages throughout the Regional Optimist's distribution area.
It should also be noted that if a town does not receive enough nominations to fill its council, those who file papers before the deadline are elected by acclamation, and those who come forward after the election may have to run in an election if there are more people than council seats.
Here are the candidates running for mayor and council in each community, listed alphabetically.
In Blaine Lake, former councillor Andrew S. Ciona is running against Mabel Androsoff for mayor. Seeking the six council seats are incumbents Barry Glencross, Christiana (Kitty) Larson, Kyle Onishenko, Lorne J. Popoy and Keith Woytiuk. New candidates are Karel Fiala, Jason Niessen, Deborah Ostapowich, Debbie Rodwin and Al Sorenson.
In Borden, David Buckingham will be the next mayor, by acclamation. Seeking election to the four council seats are incumbents Terry Tkaczyk, Ian Tracksell and Jamie Brandrick. Frank Silcox and Tom Redhead are also seeking election.
Cut Knife has three candidates challenging incumbent Germaine Vany for mayor: Drew Gilchrist, Tom Wiley and Gwenn Kaye. Rob Rowat, Mel Sawatsky and Vince Labossiere are seeking reelection to council, and they are challenged by Greg Beland, Doug Robertson, Travis Sorenson, Lyn Tarr, Lorrie Boone, Dan Boone and Roger Emberley.
Edam is in an unusual situation. Larry McDaid will return by mayor by acclamation, as will current councillors Sheila Orchison, Ken McConnell and Arnold Poole. Current councillor Barry Weitzel, however, submitted his nomination papers late. He is on the ballot, but there is a call for nominations out currently and he may be challenged.
Glaslyn is the only community in the Regional Optimist's distribution area where both the mayor and his entire council will return by acclamation. Mayor Ken Morrison and councillors Melvin Pritchett, Brad Davies, Wayne Read and Kathy Mackie will all retain their posts.
Hafford has put out another call for nominations, as only Art Lacey, Ray Prysliak and incumbent Sylvia Ruedger have come forward for the four council seats. Former councillor Ron Kowalchuk is challenging Russ MacNutt for the mayor's seat.
Maidstone has two candidates running against incumbent Connie McCulloch - Tim Melnyk and Riley Tuplin. Five former councillors and two newcomers seek the six council seats. The incumbents are Brennan Becotte, Dwayne (Max) Lyons, Rodney Marfleet, Larry Nogue and Clare Welwood. The newcomers are Krissy Higgins and Christina Melnyk.
Maymont will not have an election, as all of its spots have been filled by acclamation. Denise Bernier will return as mayor, along with councillors Joeleen Milman and Carol Deagnon. Brian Ducharme and Leonard Voegeli will be new faces on town council.
Meota should expect some changes to its council. Only Pearl Hawkins is running as an incumbent, with Robert Colliar, Lloyd Foulds, Maurice Gauthier, Betty Johnson, Linda MacDonald and Greg Shury challenging her for the four seats available. Maryann Germann is challenging current mayor John MacDonald for the mayor's chair.
Paradise Hill will not hold an election, as all spots have been filled by acclamation. Isabelle Jasper will return as mayor and the council will be made of newcomers Bernard Ecker and David Konopelski along with incumbents Michael Nasby and Merle Bielecki.
Paynton sees Ken Parohl challenge current mayor Dave R. Florizone. Seeking the four council seats are Jon Rhicard, Dewey Taylor and Tish Boychuk along with incumbents Joey Mosher and Robert Preuss.
Radisson residents can look forward to a spirited race that is guaranteed to change the makeup of the town's politicians substantially. Running for mayor are former councillor Leona Bennet, along with Don Tanner and Suren Chetty. Three former councillors are running for reelection, and are challenged by six others. The incumbents are Michelle Nelson, Mark Kizyma and Darren Harris, and they are running against newcomers Denise Girous, David Summers, Bella Armistead, Marion Fehr-Stead, Jolene Renas and Marlane Wenner.
Spiritwood will not have an election, with mayor Gary von Holwede returning to his post by acclamation. There will be a small change on council though. Bruce Rogers will join current councillors Jim Bedi, Leanne Sawatsky, Bryan Wingerter, George Pretli and Laura-Lee Higgins Cross by acclamation.
St. Walburg is putting out another call for nominations, after only four people submitted papers for the six seats on council. Tony Leeson will remain the mayor by acclamation, and Pat Rutherford, Darrell Mullis and incumbents Walter Looshorn and Larry Steinacher are guaranteed a seat on council.
Turtleford has put out a call for nominations, with five out of six councillors returning and no one else submitting papers, and their mayor unopposed. Roland Olson will remain Turtleford's mayor, and Doug Ask, Cliff Currie, Robert Knowlton, Caroll Spence and Cheryl Starnes will return to council.
Unity has also put out another call for nominations. Kenneth Rudniski is challenging serving mayor Sylvia Maljan, and Brian Vanderlinde, Terry Flaherty, and incumbents Don Robertson, Erik Hansen and Richard Briggs all have guaranteed spots on the future council.
Finally, Wilkie will join many communities around the province in putting out another call for nominations. For the mayor's seat, previous councillor David Ziegler is challenging Ken Besler, who was not previously on council. Cathy Heilman will join incumbents Alex Majewski and Maryellen Herzog on council, though the last seat is, at the moment empty.
Look for more coverage of local elections in upcoming editions of the Regional Optimist.
