Local school boards avoid extended nomination period

By COLLIN GALLANT on September 21, 2021.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

There will be a vote for school trustees in Medicine Hat after a flurry of late filings from candidates.

In total, 15 people will likely be on the ballot on Oct. 18 for five public school board trustee positions, and seven for the Catholic board electors, after Monday’s nomination deadline.

Until late last week, only one nomination package had been dropped off to the returning officer for either of the local Catholic or public school districts.

Fewer than five nominations for either would have resulted in an extended nomination period, but also the potential for those registered to be acclaimed with the provincial government to filling any vacancies.

Current public school trustee Celina Symmonds is not running for re-election, but the former Medicine Hat city councillor arrived at council chambers on Monday ready to join the race to ensure there would be at least six candidates and therefore an election.

“I wanted to make sure there were enough good people running,” she told the News. “It looks like there’s enough.”

She said the incoming school boards will have substantial and important issues to deal with, such as the implementation of the controversial new provincial curriculum next year as well as ongoing budget issues and the response to COVID-19.

Those running for Medicine Hat Public trustee positions are Gwendoline Dirk, Deborah Forbes, Pat Grisonich, Brad Kyle, Rick Massini, Alex McQuaig, Chandra Camille Muszka, Aaron Myradon, Curtis Oscar Noble, David Pollard, Tom Rooke, Jillian Schempp, Yvonne Sissons, Sire Jeremy Williamson and Catherine Alice Wilson.

Alicia Doud, Kathy Glasgo, Bernie Kinch, David Leahy, Ken Loehndorf, Richard (Dick) Mastel and Robert Risling comprise the field for five Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education trustees.

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