INNISFAIL – The nominations are in and the town will see hotly contested municipal election races for both mayor and six council seats on Oct. 16.
Mayor Brian Spiller will go against his predecessor Jim Romane for the right to serve a new four-year term. There are 11 Innisfailians challenging for the six council seats, including incumbents Doug Bos, Gavin Bates and Danny Rieberger. Eight newcomers will battle it out for the remaining three seats, including Angela Sande, Donnie Hill, Glen Carritt, Christa Lamboo, Ron King, Jean Barclay, Mary Flemming and David Toms.
“We had 10 (councillor candidates) last election,” said Heather Whymark, the town's returning officer and director of corporate services during nomination day on Sept. 18. “This makes a good forum to choose from, and this election we will have an elected mayor, not an acclaimed one.”
The town's first all candidates forum is set for Tuesday, Sept. 26 at the Innisfail Seniors Drop-In Centre.
In Penhold, Mayor Dennis Cooper will be challenged by Coun. Mike Yargeau for the mayor's chair. There are 13 candidates challenging for six seats on council, including incumbents Sharolyn Sanchez, Kathy Sitter and Mike Walsh. Newcomer candidates include Ken Denson, Mike Dodman, Robin Edwards, Cameron Galisky, Shawn Hamm, Len Istace, Shaun Kranenborg, Tyrone Muller, Melanie Radway and Sarah Verburg.
Penhold is having a candidates' forum on Oct. 5 at Memorial Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
In Bowden, there will be a race for mayor in the upcoming election but not for council members. Incumbent mayor Robb Stuart will face off against current councillor Earl Wilson but only six candidates stepped up for the six council seats and all have been acclaimed. They are incumbents Sandy Gamble, Wayne Milaney and Paul Webb. They will be joined on council by newcomers Carol Pion, Kerry Kelm and Randy Brown. They will be sworn in at the organizational meeting following the Oct. 16 election.
In Red Deer County, Mayor Jim Wood is being challenged by Debra Hanna. Two of the six divisions see incumbent acclamations – Division 1 with Philip Massier and Division 5 with Richard Lorenz. Division 2 will see a battle between incumbent Jean Bota and Edward Collins. Division 3 will be contested between incumbent Don Church and newcomer Dana Depalme. Incumbent Connie Huelsman will face off against David Hoar in Division 4 while Division 6 incumbent Christine Moore will be challenged by newcomers Laura Stephan and Pam Davidson.
At the Chinook's Edge School Division, incumbent trustee Holly Bilton was acclaimed for Ward 4 (Innisfail), as was Ward 3 (Delburne/Elnora) incumbent Colleen Butler. Ward 5 (Bowden/Spruce View) incumbent Connie Huelsman is being challenged by Sandra Shippelt, while Ward 2 (Penhold/Poplar Ridge/Springbrook) incumbent Sherry Cooper will face off against newcomer Brian Constantine.
Meanwhile, there is a new Innisfail and area trustee for the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools. Sharla Heistad was acclaimed for the QE II Ward, which represents Innisfail, Bowden, Olds and Didsbury. She takes over from Diane MacKay, who was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2007.
Heather Whymark, returning officer for Innisfail
"We had 10 (councillor candidates) last election. This makes a good forum to choose from, and this election we will have an elected mayor, not an acclaimed one."
