Coun. Jim Tuner, who died recently, will remain on the upcoming municipal election ballot because it was too late to remove it with legal authorization. His family wants Hatters to avoid marking an 'X' beside his name.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The name of deceased city councillor Jim Turner will stand on ballots in Medicine Hat’s municipal election, city election officials have confirmed, and his son says Hatters should avoid marking an ‘X’ for him as a sort of tribute.
Justin Turner told the News he will find it “incredibly hard” not to vote for his father on Oct. 18, but the potential for him to gain enough votes to force a byelection is something his father would have hated.
“The last thing dad would have wanted was to have a byelection and waste $100,000 of the city’s money,” Justin Turner told the News on Wednesday morning. “We really appreciate all the support from the community.”
Jim Turner, a two-term council member who registered his re-election campaign last spring, died on the evening of Sept. 21.
That was hours after a noon-hour deadline that day for candidates to remove their names for contention in this month’s vote, and ballots printed by the province were were approved shortly thereafter.
According to local Chief Returning Officer Angela Cruickshank, a special request to change the ballot was made to the Alberta Ministry of Municipal Affairs, but her office “was unable to obtain authorization due to the lack of time available to consider the request.”
“In light of the urgent print deadline (for ballots) and the lack of authorization from the Minister’s Office, the city was left with no option but to print ballots that include Councillor Turner’s name,” reads a statement.
Legislation also requires local election officials to post a notice at polling stations informing voters the candidate has died.
Cruickshank says she understands that may seem uncaring, but it is a legal requirement and must be observed to protect the integrity of the election.
“Many may want to honour Councillor Turner by voting for him. As an alternative to this gesture, we encourage voters to make a donation to the Medicine Hat and District Foodbank, or a service club, causes that were close to his heart.”
In Medicine Hat, the top-eight vote-getters are elected to council positions. Should Turner place in that number, he would be unable to accept the position as outlined in the legislation, and regulations would require a byelection be held.
Advance voting takes place in blocks starting on Saturday at the Hockey Hounds arena and Medicine Hat Stampede Grandstand. Hatters can also vote early at those locations from Oct. 12-16.
General voting takes place Oct. 18 at polling stations throughout the city.
