MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - If approved by council, the county’s updated Municipal Elections Bylaw will prohibit all candidates in the October 2005 municipal election from making any use of county logos or branding.
During a special council meeting held Feb. 5, councillors gave first and second reading to the updated bylaw.
Section 7 of the updated bylaw reads: “Candidates must not use county resources, including property, equipment, services, supplies or staff time, for any election-related activities. The county’s logo, branding or digital identity shall not be used by any candidate for campaign purposes.”
In anticipation of the upcoming Oct. 20, 2025 municipal election, council has instructed administration to review the existing Municipal Elections Bylaw and make recommended amendments.
In a briefing note to council, Chris Atchison, director of legislative service, said a clause relative to the use of county resources and logos exists in the Council Code of Conduct.
“This clause however does not pertain to candidates that are not currently councillors,” he said. “As such administration recommends for clarity and consistency that a clause be carried into the Municipal Elections Bylaw to provide the same regulation for non-councillor candidates.”
During discussion of the proposed update, Coun. Jennifer Lutz asked Atchison, “Just a question on branded wear. If you’re at a function that you (councillor) are going to for councillor purposes but people ask you about what your platform is or whatever, what do you do on something like your vest that has county wear (branding)?”
Atchison replied, “My thought is that that is not for a campaign purpose. At any point in time in your term somebody could ask you about your re-election or whether you are running or what you would do different in the future, and I don’t see that as you intentionally campaigning.
“This (new provision) would prohibit you from wearing you county logo going door-to-door knocking or holding an open house for your re-election.”
A second amendment to the bylaw removes fax as an option for requesting special ballots.
“Administration recommends that due to the lack of efficiency, poor quality of documentation and limited accessibility of fax machines, that it is not an effective means for administration to hand special balloting,” administration said in the briefing note.
“It is administration’s position that there are sufficient other manners that a request can be received and has identified that many other municipalities do not allow requests via fax.”
Under the updated bylaw, an elector can request special ballots in writing, by telephone, in person, by email, or by secure website.
Council instructed administration to bring Bylaw No. 01/25 Municipal Elections back to an upcoming council meeting for consideration of third and final reading.
