Residents in Rocky Mountain House will not be headed to the polls this fall in a municipal by-election.
Town officials confirm it has received a ministerial order from municipal affairs granting the Town’s weeks-old request for a by-election deferral.
The Municipal Government Act (MGA) normally requires a municipality to hold a by-election if a vacancy of a chief elected official occurs more than 12 months before a general election, however, as in this case, the Minister has authority to extend the time for filling council vacancies until the next general election.
A letter, signed by Municipal Affairs Minister, Ric McIver, orders it be extended until the next general election in 2025.
The exemption pertains to the seat left vacant by former mayor Debbie Baich who resigned on Aug. 13.
Now that it’s been granted, the MGA requires one or more acting mayors to be in place until the 2025 election, and it’ll now be up to council to decide how to proceed.
During an Aug. 20, 2024 meeting, council reviewed several options.
Coun. Dave Auld inquired about the possibility of council keeping one acting mayor in place for the remainder of the term, and to keep the deputy mayor schedule unchanged.
Marley Capraro automatically became acting mayor on Aug. 13, while Coun. Ken Moesker was appointed deputy mayor on Aug. 20.
The issue is set to be revisited in late October.
The next municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 2025.
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READ MORE:
- Debbie Baich resigns as mayor of Rocky Mountain House
- Capraro becomes acting mayor, council to discuss deputy mayor appointments, possible byelection
- Ken Moesker becomes deputy mayor, Town to request by-election exemption
- Marley Capraro to serve additional four months as Rocky Mountain House deputy mayor
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