The city council race in this October’s municipal election should become clearer next month when current councillors start saying whether or not they will run again.
The St. Albert Gazette reached out to every sitting member of city council to ask them about their intentions this fall. They were all mum on the subject.
None gave a specific answer about whether or not they will run again, instead giving general guidelines about when they will make their decision public.
“I’m not prepared to reveal that information yet,” said Coun. Roger Lemieux, currently serving a second term. “I’m still contemplating with my family and supporters whether or not it’s the right thing to do.”
Lemieux indicated he should be ready to announce his decision by mid-July, as will a few other councillors. First-term councillors Cam MacKay, Wes Brodhead and Cathy Heron all indicated they should have something to say next month.
“Officially it will be some time within the next week or two,” said Brodhead. MacKay gave a similar timeline while Heron, reached by Facebook in Portugal, said she will announce her decision sometime in the month of July.
Coun. Malcolm Parker, also serving out his first term, said he will disclose his decision sometime in August.
“There are a couple of things on my plate I wanted to just deal with,” Parker said.
He noted he announced his successful candidacy in 2010 right around Rock’n August and said he would probably follow a similar timetable this year.
The longest serving member of council, Len Bracko at five terms, said he will wait until late August to announce his intentions.
Mayor Nolan Crouse is the only member of city council to announce he will seek re-election. Crouse is looking for a third term as mayor and a fourth as a member of city council. Shelley Biermanski, who challenged Crouse in 2010 for the mayor’s chair, has said she will also run for mayor.
Candidates for council who have already declared include David Climenhaga, Gareth Jones, Tim Osborne, Sheena Hughes and Ted Durham.
Candidates must file their papers Sept. 23. Election day is Oct. 21.
