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Election races should stir discussion |
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Tuesday, 18 September 2007 |
With some very important issues coming up for discussion over the next few years, Taber came very close to having too few council candidates.
As Monday's noon deadline came and went, only five locals filed nomination papers for the six seats on Taber town council.
Luckily, three more men threw their hats into the ring before Tuesday's extended noon deadline, to bring the number of candidates to eight.
After Monday, however, there was a very real possibility Taber would operate with just five councillors, and one mayor, which would have meant a six-member council. It was positive to see three more Taberites step up to plate on Tuesday - two new faces and one incumbent councillor.
Now, citizens must select sic councillors from the group of eight.
Of the field, there are some newcomers, which include Abe Andres, Bryan Harris and Louie Tams.
Incumbents Garth Bekkering, Murray Rochelle, Terry Sargeant and Randy Sparks will all be seeking another term in office. Those eight council candidates have been joined by Ray Bryant and Dave Duggan, who will go head to head in the race for mayor.
In the end, the interest in serving on Taber town council is good, even if it was a little belated. Taberites now have some options as to who will be on town council.
With the decision of Larry Joblonkay not to run, there will be at least one new face on town council, while the battle for mayor includes the incumbent, Bryant, against the former mayor, Duggan.
With a full slate of candidates, though not as full as in 2004, when 12 filed nomination papers for council and three ran for mayor, the issues of the day will now get some extra attention over the next month, prior to the election on Oct. 15.
Obviously, the wastewater treatment plant will garner some attention, as will some of Taber's other infrastructure needs.
The impact current and future projects will have on our taxes and utility bills should also play a role in the campaign.
Choices will also have to be made for trustee positions with both the Horizon School Division and the Holy Spirit School Division.
Four are in the running for three Taber/Barnwell trustee positions in Horizon, as Bruce Francis, Sharon Holtman, Audrey Krizsan and John Siddle will compete locally.
Kerry Milder and Fred Williams will go head to head for the one Taber spot for Holy Spirit.
The only local councils to be without any elections will be the M.D. of Taber and the Village of Barnwell, as all council members are in by acclamation in both cases.
To see races in three cases, however, bodes well for the democratic process, and should produce some valuable discussion over the next month. |
