By TERRY PUGH
Incumbent mayors of several area communities were re-elected by acclamation at the close of municipal election nominations October 9.
Rosthern Mayor Dennis Helmuth, Osler Mayor Abe Quiring, Hague Mayor Patricia Wagner, Dalmeny Mayor Jon Kroeker, Waldheim Mayor John Bollinger and Borden Mayor Jamie Brandrick are all returning to their respective seats at the head of their council tables. They were unopposed in their bid for re-election at the close of nomination October 9.
Many urban communities, however, are holding elections for mayor and councillors, while several area RMs will be electing their reeve and odd-numbered division councillors.
As of Tuesday, October 15, the municipal election picture for area communities is as follows:
DALMENY
In Dalmeny, incumbent Mayor Jon Kroeker was unopposed in his bid for re-election. As well, all six town councillors were elected by acclamation. They include: Eric Desnoyers, Edward Slack, Matt Bradley, Amy McNeil, Aaron Peters and Anna-Marie Zoller.
ROSTHERN
In Rosthern, incumbent Mayor Dennis Helmuth was re-elected by acclamation.
There will be an election on November 13 for the community’s five council seats. Incumbent councillors seeking re-election include: Colin Aebig, Kevin Graham, Emily Hand, Blaine Krentz and Brett Knoll. There are six other candidates also looking to be elected to council, including: Audrey Watson, Lucius Marten, Kate Kading, Cameron Brown, Jason Peters and Loyal Block.
OSLER
In Osler, incumbent Mayor Abe Quiring was acclaimed.
There will be an election for town council. Seven candidates are vying for six council seats, including incumbents Susan Braun, Len Turcotte, Adam Humenuik, Craig Peters, Tennille Burlack and Layne Sillito; and newcomer Bill Ruskin.
HAGUE
In Hague, incumbent Mayor Patricia Wagner was returned by acclamation.
In addition, four town councillors were elected by acclamation, including newcomer Megan Sands and incumbents Darryl Fehr, Megan Heinbigner and Aimee Wiebe. Two council seats are vacant, and the town is extending its nomination deadline in an effort to fill those seats.
LANGHAM
There will be a new mayor in Langham. Randall Kary was elected by acclamation to the post at the close of nominations October 9.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of candidates vying for the town’s six council seats, including incumbents Carol Epp and Brendan Procter, and newcomers Alan Sneddon, Clare Deugau, Timothy Sharpe and Douglas Simpson.
HEPBURN
Neal Mihalicz is moving from a town council seat to the Mayor’s chair in Hepburn. Mihalicz, a former councillor, was elected Mayor by acclamation at the close of nominations October 9.
Incumbent town councillor Erica Baerwald was also re-elected by acclamation (Baerwald is also the NDP candidate for the Warman riding – which includes the town of Hepburn – in the current provincial election). There are three vacant council seats that still need to be filled, so the community is extending the nomination deadline for those seats.
DELISLE
Deb Winder is the new Mayor of Delisle. Winder, a former town councillor, was declared elected by acclamation October 9.
There will be an election for town council in Delisle, with seven candidates contesting the six seats. The candidates include: former Delisle Mayor Cary Brunett, incumbent councillors Jason Alkestrup, Lee Cisecki, Darcy Peakman, Nic Vandenameele, Shelley Worth, and newcomer Stacey Rathgeber.
ABERDEEN
The polls will be busy in the town of Aberdeen on election day, November 13. Two candidates are vying for the Mayor’s chair, including incumbent Ryan White and challenger Randy Doige.
There are also 12 candidates in the race for the town’s six council seats. They include incumbents Lori Sopotyk, Brian Vandenberg and Floyd Wudrick. The newcomers looking to be elected are: Nicholas Cochet, Joel Dokken, Andrew Hamoline, Miranda Hingston, Wanda Rance, Justin Regier, Christopher Steingart, Bjorn Vors and Sharlene White.
DUCK LAKE
Four people are in the race to become Mayor of the Town of Duck Lake. They include: incumbent Bonnie Guigon and challengers Lance Grosco, Jason Anderson and Kimberly Brewer. There are five candidates for the town’s four council seats, including: incumbents Blake Cameron and Lauriel Magnusson, and newcomers Collin Fiolleau, Naomi Paintednose and Cassandra Smallchild.
BORDEN
There are four councillors elected by acclamation who will be joining returning Mayor Jamie Brandrick at the council table. They include: incumbents Tom Redhead and Kandicce Walker, and newcomers Cody Bradshaw and Kristyna Vondrasek.
RADISSON
Former Radisson town councillor Duane Flath is moving into the role of Mayor following the close of nominations October 9. Flath was unopposed in his bid for the Mayor’s chair.
Meanwhile, former Radisson Mayor Pete Reddekopp returns to council as a councillor. He joins fellow incumbent councillors Diane Rimmer, Scott Currie and Shawn Mitchler, all of whom were also re-elected by acclamation.
CLAVET
Michelle King was elected Mayor by acclamation for the Village of Clavet October 9. The village councillors, also elected by acclamation, include: Brad Pottle, Lauren Crosby, Jennifer Samoleski and Jim Braun.
WALDHEIM
Incumbent John Bollinger is returning for another term as Mayor of Waldheim. Joining him at the decision-making table are town councillors Garth Driedger, Chris Enns, Laura Hutchinson, Grant Ratzlaff and James Robillard. All five councillors were elected by acclamation.
LAIRD, VANSCOY, ASQUITH
Election results for the Village of Laird, Village of Vanscoy and Town of Asquith were not available as of the Gazette press deadline October 14.
RM OF ABERDEEN
Reeve Martin Bettker was re-elected by acclamation for the RM of Aberdeen on October 9. Incumbent councillors Graham White (Division 1), Kevin Kirk (Division 3) and Paul Martens (Division 5) were also returned by acclamation.
RM OF VANSCOY
RM of Vanscoy Reeve Leonard Junop was re-elected by acclamation, as were Division 3 incumbent councillor Jeff Kielo and Division 5 councillor Liana Larson. There are two candidates running for the position of councillor for Division 1. They are James Harvey and Randall Rathy.
RM OF BLUCHER
Incumbent Reeve Blair Cummins was returned by acclamation in the RM of Blucher on October 9. Two councillors, Nicole DeCorby (Division 1) and Jim Appelt (Division 3) were also acclaimed. There will be an election in Division 5, where incumbent Robin Wilson is being challenged by candidate Travis Goebel.
RM OF LAIRD
Incumbent Reeve Sheldon Willems returns to the helm of the RM of Laird following his acclamation on October 9. Three councillors were also acclaimed, including incumbents Ron Boldt (Division 1) and Trent Ebach (Division 5). The new councillor for Division 3 is Garry Bergen.
RM OF ROSTHERN
Roger Kinzel, the incumbent Reeve in the RM of Rosthern, was re-elected by acclamation October 9.
There will be an election in Division 1, where two candidates are vying for the council seat, including incumbent Rick Pochipinski and challenger Martin Fehr. There is also an election in Division 7, where the candidates are Tom Madden and Gabriel Benoit. (Please note the Gazette had erroneously reported earlier that Tom Madden had been acclaimed in that division.) There were two acclamations: Darrell Penner in Division 3 and Chad Krikau in Division 5.
RM OF GREAT BEND
The incumbent Reeve of the RM of Great Bend, Gary Nickel, was returned by acclamation October 9, as were incumbent councillors Elizabeth Torrens (Division 1), Dave Amson (Division 3) and Ian Hosegood (Division 5). New councillor Greg Flath was elected for a two-year term in a byelection for Division 6.
RM OF DUCK LAKE
There will be an election for Reeve in the RM of Duck Lake. Incumbent Reeve Remi Martin is being challenged for the position by Marcel Perrin.
A four-way race is in the works for Division 1 in the RM of Duck Lake, where incumbent councillor Allan Lanovaz chose not to seek re-election. The candidates looking to fill his spot at the council table include: Raymond Gauthier, Scott Gauthier, Michael Molaro and Peter Bradley Rudyck.
There is also an election in Division 3, where incumbent councillor Sid Kernohan is being challenged by Robert Bannerman.
A byelection call for Division 4 has been filled by Devin Banach, who was elected by acclamation. (The RM of Duck Lake does not have a Division 5).
RM OF MONTROSE
All three council positions up for election in the RM of Montrose were decided by acclamation. The Reeve is Judith Curren. Division 1 councillor is Jodi Griffin, and Division 3 councillor is Neal McCutcheon.