OLDS — Town of Olds Mayor Judy Dahl is not tipping her hand yet as to whether she’ll run for sixth term as mayor.
Although the next municipal election won’t occur until this October, due to new legislation, candidates have been able to file nomination papers as early as Jan. 1. The deadline to do so is Sept. 22.
Dahl is serving out her fifth term as mayor of Olds. She was first voted into that post in 2004, a run of 13 years. Dahl decided not to run for mayor in 2017, but ran again for that post in 2021, at the behest of the community, she says.
Dahl was asked by email whether she plans to run again.
“With all due respect, I have no comment to share,” Dahl wrote. “My priority is to continue to focus on serving our community along with council members on current priorities. I trust the process.”
Dahl was asked what she sees as issues in this year’s election.
She dodged that question too.
“I have learned early in politics that we can say what we feel an issue is, however, it is the ideas that are built with a ‘team’ that are the strongest pillars, one issue at a time,” she wrote.
Dahl indicated she has no opinion on the fact that the nomination period is now so long, saying it is the “personal choice” of a candidate to file when they’re ready to do so.
“I would encourage anyone expressing interest in running, to complete a Notice of Intent form,” she wrote.
If she were to be unsuccessful in a run for the mayor’s chair or a seat on council, or decided not to run at all, Dahl hinted she’ll find other ways to contribute to the community.
“Helping others makes me feel included and empowered and will continue to feed my soul,” she wrote.
