A four-year municipal council term might give people some second thoughts about running in local elections said both the mayor of Innisfail and the mayor of Penhold.
“I think four years is going to be a bigger challenge to get people to run,” said Penhold mayor Dennis Cooper. Mayor Jim Romane of Innisfail said people would have to give “serious thought” to the longer time commitment.
The mayors were responding to the idea being floated in a Municipal Affairs survey about extending municipal council terms to four years. Currently in Alberta civic elections are held every three years in the fall.
“It is a substantial increase,” said Romane. He said the idea of moving the terms up to four years has been “batted around for a number of years.”
Romane said the longer term could be helpful for new councillors who have to learn the ropes. Cooper agreed, noting it would aid rookies with the “really steep learning curve” involved in getting up to speed with municipal matters.
Cooper said the extra year is a substantial increase.
“Four years is a long time,” he said, noting it will be interesting to see what happens.
Romane said while the extra time could help new councillors, most people who run for council are likely to want to serve more than one term. He said usually there is some continuity between each elected council, allowing for projects to not be slowed down by the change.
“I don't know what to think of it,” Romane said of the possibility of four-year terms.
Municipal Affairs has an online survey for public consultation on a number of issues related to civic elections, the first of which is changing the terms to four years. Other issues covered include campaign funding declarations and use, voter eligibility and more. The consultation is open until July 31 and is online at www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/1774.cfm.
