By Bromley Chamberlain
Election underway in Rimbey
With three people running for mayor and nine people for the four councillor positions, the residents of Rimbey have a good selection of candidates from which to choose their elected officials.
The Rimbey Ratepayers Association is hosting a candidate’s forum, as is the library. With advance polls just around the corner, education of the public is a necessity. Educated voters are the best kind, and whether you’re 18 or 80, get out and vote, it’s your right as a Canadian citizen.
With Rimbey covered in election signs this years candidates are well prepared. They are advertising, planning and handing out information on their behalf.
Dale Barr, Rick Pankiw and Sheldon Ibbotson are in the race for the mayor of Rimbey title.
Joe Anglin, Wayne Clark, Dave Huff, Dianne Kushniryk, Gayle Rondeel, Brian Restall, Paul Payson, Steve Schrader and Jack Webb are all running for the four council positions.
Barr, Clark, Huff and Schrader are all running for another term in municipal politics. Rimbey voters have the choice of voting in new blood, or keeping the same people on council they have had for the past three years.
“I’m looking forward to carrying those successes forward to more successes, more development, and more growth in our community over the next three years,” responded Barr when asked why he was running for his fourth term.
“I hope to make a difference and mostly, I want to see female representation on council,” stated Dianne Kushniryk, a deli clerk at the Co-op. “I stand for old-fashioned values and God in government. There have been things going on in this town that I want us all to take a good hard look at.”
She is hoping more youth will get involved in community activities, and considers herself an everyday person who can achieve that.
Joe Anglin ran in the by-election and lost by a handful of votes. He is back for another try.
“I’ve always been an advocate for democratic rights wherever I’ve been. The amount of effort I put in generally goes above and beyond the expectations of most people that I deal with, both in municipal and provincial government. I have always never accepted a statement or a comment at face value, particularly when decisions have to be based on correct information.”
Rimbey county councilors Beebe acclaimed
A pair of Ponoka County council members will not be challenged for their seats when the Oct. 18 civic election is held.
Gordon Svenningsen, in Division 1, and E. Keith Beebe, in Division 5 (Rimbey), were both acclaimed for their council seats.
In Division 2, Rick Angeltvedt and Curtis Emes will challenge incumbent Gawney Hinkley.
In Division 3, incumbent George Verheire will be challenged by Frank Cissell and Bruce Millar.
In Division 4, incumbent Paul McLauchlin has one challenger, Reini Wright.
Five of six trustees acclaimed in Wolf Creek School Division
Just one of the five wards in Wolf Creek School Division No. 72 will hold a vote.
Donna Peterson in Ward 1, Lorrie Jess, in Ward 2, Karin Engen, in Ward 4, and trustees Jancee Hawthorne and Robert Huff, in Ward 5, have all been acclaimed and will continue to sit as school board trustees.
The only voting will take place in Ward 3 (Rimbey), where incumbent Trudy Bratland will be challenged by Scott Ellis and Pam Kapalka.
The first advance poll is being held in the Kinsmen Room at the community centre Oct. 5th between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The second poll is set for Oct. 9th at Parkland Manor between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Election day is Oct. 18th in the main auditorium at the community centre between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.