INNISFAIL – Nomination periods are now open for any citizen, including current elected officials, who are considering putting their names in the hat for the general municipal election scheduled for the fall of 2025.
And Innisfail mayor Jean Barclay has declared she will run to earn a second term.
Barclay told the Albertan she has given this decision considerable thought over the past few weeks and still “loves” the job, adding she and council have made many important initiatives that are still not completed.
“We've made some pretty big strides these last three years and I hope that continues,” said Barclay, adding there are big issues ahead that need attention in the fourth and final year of council’s mandate. “I think the aquatic centre is certainly top of mind right now. There has been an application going into the federal government for a grant.
“That topic has been on our plates for more than just this term, and we need to make some decisions and get things moving forward,” she added. “Housing, as always, is a top priority. I think there's been some progress made but we still don't have anywhere near the diversity in housing we require.”
Barclay also notes that senior level of government underfunding for municipalities, including Innisfail, is still a serious issue, adding the town is underfunding its infrastructure by about $1.6 million a year.
“Both rural and urban municipalities are facing some challenges,” said Barclay.
With nominations for the municipal general election on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 being open as of Jan. 2, the Albertan asked all members of council if they had made a decision yet on whether to seek a new four-year mandate.
There are seven seats up for grabs, one for mayor and six for town councillors.
Three town councillors, Janice Wing, Cindy Messaros and Gavin Bates, all said they have not yet made up their minds.
“It’s a huge, huge honour to serve on council and it’s also a huge time commitment and I need to make sure and reflect on whether I have the time to dedicate to the role in serving the citizens of Innisfail,” said Messaros, a first term councillor who added she has professional responsibilities working in the non-profit sector.
Messaros said she hopes to make a decision by early spring.
Janice Wing, who is also a first term town councillor, said she will have a “better feel” in the coming months what the upcoming election will look like for her and her family.
She said the biggest issue she sees is getting all of levels of government to the table and getting the things done “that need to be done.”
Gavin Bates is currently in his third term of office as an Innisfail town councillor. He too is still mulling over whether he wants to seek a fourth term as the election is still 10 months away.
“I believe the first time I ran I made that decision six weeks from the election,” said Bates, adding he also feels the biggest issue facing town council was securing funding for local infrastructure needs.
With three members of town council saying it’s still too early to make a decision on whether to seek a new mandate there are two others who have made up their minds.
Coun. Jason Heistad, a four-term town councillor, said he will once again run for a fifth mandate.
“There's a lot of good work we're doing as a council but personally I think I have more to give to our community,” said Heistad, adding he too believes a huge issue for the town is to have sustained infrastructure funding from the province. “I feel I've made an impact in my three and a half years. Hopefully the public sees that.”
Recently married Coun. Dale Dunham, a committed community builder who was elected to council for the first time in 2021, has decided not to seek re-election in 2025.
Dunham said he and husband Shaun Steen are moving to a farm southwest of town towards Sundre, which under residency requirements would make him ineligible to serve as an elected official in Innisfail.
While he is moving from Innisfail Dunham said he will still remain “attached” to the many annual community events he initiated, including Innisfail Pride, Innisfail Lantern Festival and the Innisfail Festival of Trees.
“I won't miss the high profile part of it. I'm very much looking forward to being able to work in a supportive role, and allow other individuals to be the front people, and to allow them to direct things going forward,” said Dunham. “It's been a wonderful experience, but it does take a lot out of a person to be in the public eye so much, and unfortunately, when you do take that sort of role you do become somewhat more of a target with that visibility.
“I'm looking forward to being able to do things quietly and behind the scenes.”
The sixth town councillor seat once held by the late Don Harrison who passed away on Nov. 1 will also be available for candidates in the upcoming election on Oct. 20.
It has been left vacant through a town council decision on Nov. 12.
Nominations close for a council seat at noon on Sept. 22.
