Brian Spiller will be the new mayor of Innisfail.
Spiller, a 53-year-old retired dairy wholesaler, was acclaimed yesterday to succeed Jim Romane, who is retiring on election day – Oct. 21 - after serving just one term. He said he was surprised to be the only candidate for the town's top elected position.
“I thought there would be at least one more person running. I didn't know who it would be but I assumes there would be at least one,” said Spiller, who is still serving his first term as town councillor. “I am excited to serve the town and constituents for another four years. I had aspirations all along of becoming mayor but I didn't want to wait another four years to try so I threw my name in now.”
Returning officer Heather Whymark, the town's corporate services director, said it was not immediately known the last time a mayor was acclaimed in Innisfail.
While the mayor's position is settled for the 2013 Municipal Election it will be a wide open race for the six councilor seats. This year's campaign is the first time elected municipal leaders will serve a four-year team.
To the surprise of many, incumbent Jason Heistad, who openly endorsed Spiller for the mayor's chair, did not file nomination papers. Incumbents Tracey Walker and Derek Baird are also not running in the Oct. 21 election.
Only two incumbents filed nomination papers yesterday – Mark Kemball and Heather Taylor, leaving four seats open to seven candidates. The slate of council hopefuls are Jim Humble, Doug Bos, Gavin Bates, Jack Kline, Jodi Desjardins, Patt Churchill and Danny Rieberger.
Advanced polling in Innisfail will begin Oct. 4, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Learning Centre at the Innisfail Public Library. It will continue the following day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An all-candidates form will be held at the Learning Centre on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.
In Penhold, there is a three-way race for the mayor's chair. Incumbent Dennis Cooper will be squaring off against current councilors Heather Klein and Chad Hoffman. There are 11 candidates for the six councilor seats. The only incumbent running in the Oct. 21 election is Kathy Sitter. The 10 new hopefuls are George Grant, Roger Hovland, Julia King, Cory Kingsfield, Sharolyn Sanchez, Phil Sandstra, Ross Simituk, Gary Yargeau, Michael Yargeau and Mike Walsh.
The advanced polls for Penhold will be held at the Penhold Regional Multiplex on Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In Bowden, six candidates came forward for the position of councilor and one for mayor. Incumbent mayor Robb Stuart was acclaimed. Incumbent councilors Sheila Church, Sandy Gamble and Wayne Milaney were acclaimed as were former Bowden councilors Lloyd Lane and Earl Wilson and former Sundre councilor Paul Webb.
There will be election campaigns in five of the six divisions in Red Deer county, with Mayor Jim Wood and first-term Division 1 incumbent councillor Phillip Massier acclaimed, according to unofficial nomination results released Monday.
In Division 2, there are four candidates: Jean Marie Bota, Edward Collins, Gary Langevin and Robert Schwartz. There is no incumbent in the division.
In Division 3, incumbent Penny Archibald, who has been on council for 24 years, is facing off against challengers Don Church and Darlene Schmidt.
In Division 4, second-term incumbent David Hoar is facing off against challenger Connie Huelsman.
In Division 5, first-term incumbent Richard Lorenz is facing off against challengers Rod English and Jim Lougheed.
In Division 6, Joe-Anne Matejka is facing off against Christine Moore. Division incumbent George Gehrke did not seek re-election.
Candidates have until Sept. 24 at noon to withdraw from the race. Advanced polls will be held in the county on Oct. 10 and Oct. 12, with the general election day on Oct. 21.
Meanwhile, 13 citizens filed nomination papers to become trustees in the nine wards of the Chinook's Edge School Division.
There is a three-way race in Ward 4 (Innisfail). Newcomers Derek Baird, Holly Bilton and Linnea Thompson filed nomination papers. Ward 1 (Sylvan Lake/Benalto) incumbent Joe-Anne Matejka will be challenged by Jackie Swainson. In Ward 5 (Bowden/Spruce View), incumbent Connie Huelsman is being contested by Linda Possakka.
Ward 2 (Penhold/PoplarRidge/Springbrook) incumbent Sherry Cooper was acclaimed as was Ward 3 (Delburne/Elnora) incumbent Colleen Butler, Ward 6 (Sundre) incumbent Ron Fisher, Ward 7 (Olds) incumbent Trudy James, Ward 8 (Didsbury) incumbent Gord Kerr and Ward 9 (Carstairs/Cremona) newcomer Sheldon Ball.
With files from Dan Singleton
