Extra-large municipal election field keeps getting bigger

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on August 26, 2021.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The number of people running for eight city council positions has reached two dozen, making it the largest race in Medicine Hat municipal politics in 20 years.

That occurred Wednesday, about four weeks before a deadline to submit nomination papers and with a number of current councillors still to declare their intentions ahead of the Oct. 18 municipal election.

That could mean the number of names on the ballot could grow as high as 30 in the race where the top eight vote-getters are elected to at-large seats.

The recent record for council candidates was set in 2001, when voters picked from 36 hopefuls.

Only those registered with the chief returning officer are legally able to accept donations or engage in campaign spending.

Added to the list on Wednesday posted by the city clerk’s office was Immanuel Moritz, who contested the 2019 council race and previously served on the Catholic School board.

The others (in alphabetical order) are Kelly Gayle Allard, Mark Asham, Bill Bergeson, Mandi Lee Campbell, Stephen Campbell, Brian Dueck, Shane Gilmour, Cassi Hider, Marco Jansen, Praveen Joshi, Allison Knodel, Nicholas Martin, Roger Stephen McClary, Moritz, Warren Pister, Rockford Rutledge, Shila Sharps, Jeremy Silver, Charles “Chuck” Turner, Jim Turner, Alison Van Dyke, Brian Webster and Justin Wright.

Four candidates are registered for mayor, including Linnsie Clark, Tony Leahy, Alan Rose and Michael Starner. Current mayor Ted Clugston has said he will vie for a third term, but hasn’t yet filed paperwork.

The final deadline to submit paperwork is at noon on Sept. 20 in council chambers, at which time candidates must also confirm they are running.

There were 23 candidates in the 2007 election, 12 in 2010, 15 in 2013 and 19 in 2017.