Municipal Leader To Face off In Red Deer
Municipal leaders from across Alberta are converging on Red Deer next week to attend the Alberta Municipalities Trade and Convention Show. The event, an important annual gathering for municipal officials, features a crucial vote for Alberta Municipalities Board of Directors members.
This year’s elections hold particular significance, as the new slate of board members will guide the organization through to the next provincial general municipal election.
Out of the eight positions up for grabs, five candidates will be acclaimed, meaning they are running unopposed and will automatically take their seats on the board. The Board Election, which is scheduled for the final day of the convention on September 27, will see these acclaimed candidates formally confirmed in their roles.
One of the key acclaimed positions is Director for Cities with populations up to 500,000. Councillor Tina Petrow from the City of Airdrie will continue in this role. In addition to Petrow, Mayor Bill Rock of the Village of Amisk will continue as the Director of Villages East, while Mayor Taralyn Elwood of the Village of Alberta Beach will be acclaimed as Director of Villages West. In the position of Vice-President for Cities with populations up to 500,000, Grande Prairie Councillor Dylan Bressey will also continue in his role.
Competitive Races for Key Board Roles
While some positions have been acclaimed, several key roles are being contested, including the highly anticipated race for Director of Towns West. This election is one of the most closely watched of the convention, with three candidates competing for the position: Councillor Krista Gardner of the Town of Calmar, Mayor Janet Jabush of the Town of Mayerthorpe, and Deputy Mayor Samantha Steinke of the Town of Valleyview.
Gardner, the incumbent Director of Towns West, has been serving in this role since 2022. Her experience and familiarity with the board give her an advantage, but she faces strong competition from her opponents. Steinke, who was first elected to the Valleyview council in 2021. Meanwhile, Jabush brings a wealth of experience, having served on the Mayerthorpe council since 2017. After being acclaimed as Mayor in a by-election in 2019, she was re-elected in 2021. Gardner, on the other hand, was first elected to Calmar Council in a by-election in 2016 and has been re-elected twice since then, in 2017 and 2021.
The election for Director of Towns South is another highly competitive race, with two candidates facing off to replace outgoing Director of Towns South, Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn. The candidates for this position are Councillor Scott Akkermans from the Town of Coalhurst and Councillor Tanya Foubert from the Town of Canmore. Both candidates were first elected to their respective councils in 2021 and bring fresh perspectives to the race.
High-Stakes Rematch: Gardener vs. Jones
One of the most highly anticipated races of the convention is the rematch between incumbent Councillor Krista Gardner of Calmar and former Vice-President of Towns, Mayor Trina Jones of Legal. Jones, who lost her bid for re-election at the 2023 Alberta Municipalities Annual General Meeting in Edmonton, is hoping to reclaim the position.
As the Alberta Municipalities Trade and Convention Show unfolds, the results of these important board elections will shape the future of municipal leadership in the province. We will be providing live updates on the election results through our Facebook and Threads accounts, ensuring that you stay informed as the new board members are elected and acclaimed.
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