It’s official – 13 people will work to get Nanaimo’s vote for a seat on city council.
Thirteen candidates handed in nomination papers by Friday’s deadline, more than double the contenders who ran in Nanaimo’s last civic byelection.
Chief election officer Sheila Gurrie, who declared the candidates, said the number is a little higher than normal and more people than she’d expect would run for one vacancy.
Alexander Netherton, professor of political studies at Vancouver Island University, called the amount of candidates amazing.
“Let’s just say it —wow,” he said, adding evidently people are concerned because they think the present council is problematic.
“That interest of ‘we can do better’ or ‘we deserve better’ or ‘this should be fixed,’ this brings all these candidates in which to me is a good thing,” he said.
A high number of candidates will mean a lower number of votes is needed for any particular candidate to win and a lot of competition, according to Netherton, who said he’s seen a lot of interesting candidates.
Netherton also told the News Bulletin it could be time for Nanaimo to have party lists or groups of candidates. It doesn’t have to be a full party, but could start with a groupings or a slate —people who say they’re a team and have similar interests, he said.
“After the lessons of this last council, it would be nice to know at the beginning for an elector if these people get along or can get along…” he said. “I don’t think we ought to have another dysfunctional council-mayor relationship. This is not good for the city.”
Names of candidates include Sheryl Armstrong, Brunie Brunie, Sacia Burton, Leon Cake, Kevin Cantelon, Jim Mercier, Noah Routley, Neil Saunders, Fred Statham, Kevin Storrie, Alexis Taylor Middleton, Al Thompson and Kelly Whiteside.
Candidates will have until June 9 to withdraw from the race, with voting day on July 8. Advanced voting is June 28 and July 5. Information about the election like mail-in ballots and eligibility to vote can be found on the city’s website at goo.gl/REePd8.
news@nanaimobulletin.com