BARRHEAD/WOODLANDS COUNTY- Barrhead area residents will have their chance to select who represents them on municipal council and school board trustee as they head to the polls on Oct. 18.
At the same time, Albertans will be able to vote for up to three senators and voice their opinions on two referendum questions.
They can also cast their ballot at several advance polls throughout the region. To be eligible to vote in the election, a voter must be 18 years old, a Canadian citizen and must reside in the local jurisdiction in which they plan to vote in on election day. Proof of identity and residence is required. Examples of acceptable identification include a driver's licence or provincial or Canadian government-issued identity card, a government cheque or cheque stub, an income or property tax assessment notice and a utility bill.
In the Town of Barrhead, residents will be able to select who they would like to see as mayor. The candidates are the current mayor Dave McKenzie and political newcomer Liam Sorrenson.
Nine candidates are running for the six available council spots. Four incumbents, Don Smith, Ty Assaf, Rod Klumph and Dausen Kluin are seeking to retain their seats. They are challenged by Stephen Bablitz, Shannon Harris, Anthony Oswald, Dave Sawatzky and Shauna Lynn Zeldenrust.
County of Barrhead races
In the county, elections are necessary for Divisions 1, 2, 4, and 5, as the Divion 3 and 6 incumbents, Ron Kleinfeldt and Walter Preugschas are in by acclamation, as is newcomer Jared Stoik in Division 7.
In Division 1, incumbent councillor and current reeve Doug Drozd will face Debra Boyle.
Division 2 sees two-term councillor and deputy reeve Marvin Schatz face off with Davis Sotnikow.
In Division 4, three people — Amanda Lambert, Ivan Kusal and Lorrie Jespersen — are looking to unseat long-time councillor Bill Lane, who has held the seat since 2001.
In Division 5, Darren Strawson, Folkert Miedema and Paul Properzi are looking to fill the seat of retiring councillor Darrell Troock.
Pembina Hills races
On the Barrhead side of the division, Victoria Kane will be acclaimed as the trustee for Pembina Hills West-Ward 1, while incumbent Judy Lefebvre will take on former Alberta Learning Distance Centre teacher Gary Frederickson for the Ward 3 seat. Ward 1 (Pembina West) includes Neerlandia Public Christian School and Dunstable School. Ward 3 (Town of Barrhead) includes Barrhead Elementary, Barrhead Composite High School and the Outreach school.
Cindy Carswell and Melissa Hanna will contest for the final trustee position in the Barrhead region, in Ward 2. The ward includes the schools in Fort Assiniboine and Swan Hills.
Woodlands County
In Division 7 (Fort Assiniboine/Timeu), incumbent Dale Kluin is being challenged by Cecil Aldrich and Fort Assiniboine fire chief Devin Williams.
For the first time in 12 years, Division 6 (Goose Lake-Freeman River) will have a new councillor as Judy Bradley, Peter Kuelken and Crystal Wood vie for the seat vacated by Dale McQueen.
Where to vote
Residents voting in the Town of Barrhead election can cast their vote for mayor, municipal councillor and the Pembina Hills Ward 3 seat from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Senior's Drop-in Centre. An advanced poll is also being held at the Senior's Drop-in Centre on Oct. 14 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
County of Barrhead residents on election day can vote from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in various locations depending on the Division.
In Divison 1, it is the Belvedere Community Hall; in Division 2, it is the Gardenview (Crossroads) Community Centre; Division 3 voters go to the municipality's administration office; and Division 4 voters can cast their ballots at the Summerdale Community Hall. In Divisions 5 and 6, the polls at the community halls in Mellowdale and Tiger Lily. In Divison 7, the polling station is at the Neerlandia Christian Reformed Church.
The advanced poll for the County of Barrhead is on Saturday, Oct. 16, at the municipal administration office from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In Woodlands County, residents in Divisions 6 and 7 can cast their vote at the Goose Lake Community Hall and Fort Assiniboine Legion, respectively.
It should be noted that even if a councillor or trustee is in by acclamation, they can cast their ballot for the Senate and the referendum questions. The advanced poll is on Oct. 13, from 3 to 7 p.m. and Oct. 16 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Woodlands County municipal office in Fort Assiniboine and Whitecourt.
Pembina Hills
Voters in Pembine Hills West-Ward 2, which includes the schools in Fort Assiniboine and Swan Hills, can cast their ballots at the Woodlands County municipal office and the Swan Hills town office.
Advance polls will be open on Oct. 13 and 16 from 3 to 7 p.m. and noon to 4 p.m., respectively. In Swan Hills, the advanced poll is on Oct. 14 at the town office from 1 to 8 p.m.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
