The nomination period is over and Alberta communities have their municipal candidates determined for the upcoming local elections to be held on Oct. 20. Readers should note (I) denote an incumbent and should also note an election is only held if there is more than one candidate nominated for each vacant council seat; when only one candidate is nominated for each vacancy, they are acclaimed.

The Village of Clive will hold an election for its five council seats and according to the village website has a list of five candidates: Sarah Fahey (I), Tracey Hallman (I), Luci Henry (I), Paul Magruder, Dave Nutbrown and Susan Russell.

The Village of Alix will also be holding an election as according to the village website there are seven candidates for the five council seats: Ed Cole (I), Barb Gilliat (I), Rob Fehr (I), Francois Laneuville, Janice Besuijen (I), Martin Mabbs and Cathy Perry.

The Town of Hanna saw intense interest in council, as it will have both a mayoral and council election Oct. 20. Mayoral candidates include Danny Povaschuk (I), Mary Lynn Quaschnick and Sam Sharp while council has multiple candidates: Twilla Coates, Fred Crowle (I), Paul Hunter, Brenda Karg, Harlan Lester, Kris Maetche, Adrian Mohl, Sandra Murphy (I), Erica Rorabeck, Vern Thuroo (I) and Angie Warwick (I).

The County of Paintearth will only see one election, as Ward 4 incumbent Terry Vockeroth is being challenged by Jan Koenraadt. Acclaimed candidates include George Glazier, Dale Norton, Stan Schulmeister, Maurice Wiart, Sandy Shipton and Diane Elliot.

The Village of Big Valley also saw all positions on council filled by acclamation, confirmed by a posting in the community newsletter. Skyla Attfield, Clark German and Gail Knudson will be sworn in following council training Oct. 27.

Village of Elnora residents will be heading to the polls as there are multiple candidates for the three council seats: Jul Bissell (I), Ron Duft (I), Lisa Ferguson (I), Gail Moise, Leah Nelson and Sherri Walker.

The Village of Donalda will also be holding an election Oct. 20 as there are five candidates for the three council seats: Phil Menecola (I), Shaleah Fox (I), Tanya Metcalfe, Heather Dahl and Rob Czapp.

There appears to be a lot of interest in the Village of Delburne council, as there are nine candidates for the five council seats: Jeff Bourne (I), James Ellis, Kathy Faulk (I), Andrew Folks (I), Dustin Gillespie, Trenton Martens, Luc Prefontaine, Jason Reckseidler and Ray Reckseidler (I).

Village of Forestburg residents will have to remember to mark Oct. 20, election day, on their calendars as there are six candidates for the five council seats available. Candidates include Elaine Fossen (I), Dwayne Giroux (I), Devon McNabb (I), Debra Moffat, Dayna Oberg and Blaise Young (I).

Again, much interest in the municipal election, this time in the Town of Castor. Eleven candidates are vying for the seven council spots and include Chad Gilchrist, Brenda Hepp, Trudy Kilner (I), Gwen Kleinschroth, Kevin McDougall (I), Shawn Peach (I), Lynea Schaffner, Don Sisson (I), Matthew Sugemi, Brenda Wismer (I) and Cecil Yates (I).

According to the Town of Coronation’s website the following candidates have filed intent to run papers: Brett Alderdice (I), Ron Checkel (I), Shelley Cook, Bonnie Danylyshen, Sandra Kien, Amanda Mudliar, Daryl Perry, Kevin Resch and Mark Stannard (I).

Village of Morrin voters will be heading to the polls as well Oct. 20 with six candidates competing for the three council spots. Candidates include Kenneth Balacko, Curtis Blayney, Nick Dragani, M’Liss Edwards (I), Howard Helton and Lorraine MacArthur (I).

Some of Starland County’s councillors were acclaimed but some will run for reelection. According to the county’s website there will be elections in Div. 2 (Blaine Leonhardt, Samuel Thompson and Steven Wannstrom [I]) and Div. 5 (Carol Lenfesty, William Rew [I]). Mark Landry, Sylvia Ann Neill and Jacqueline Watts were all acclaimed.

The same holds true for Kneehill County, as two divisions saw their councillors acclaimed (Laura Lee Machell-Cunningham, Richard Hoppins) while there were five elections in other divisions. Div. 1 includes Merle Anderson, Derek Ferguson and Faye McGhee (I), Div. 2 includes Raghu Barat, Christoper Morton and Darcy Penner, Div. 3 includes Leo Marsten and Jerry Wittstock (I), Div. 4 includes Carrie Fobes (I) and Lowell Olson and Div. 7 includes Ken King (I) and Lonnie McCook.

Interest in municipal politics continues in the Stettler area as two people are competing for the mayor’s gavel while nine compete for council seats. Mayoral candidates include Gord Lawlor and Dean Lovell while council candidates include the following: Kurt Baker (I), Cheryl Barros (I), Sharon Fischer, Keith Friendship, Dusty Myshrall, Jonathan Nichols, Scott Pfeiffer (I), Travis Randell (I) and Wayne Smith (I).

The County of Stettler is also seeing a lot of interest in the election, as two of the seven divisions were acclaimed, but the other five will hold elections. Larry Clarke was acclaimed in Ward 3 while James Nibourg was acclaimed in Ward 4. Candidates in Ward 1 include Tyler Ainsworth and Clint Walker, Ward 2 Dave Grover (I) and Wade Hunter, Ward 5 David Uden, Allan Gano and Darryl Keibel, Ward 6 Justin Stevens (I) and Rosalind LaRose and Ward 7 includes Paul McKay (I) and Janet Adam.

In Lacombe County, two of the seven divisions were acclaimed with the following candidates: Brenda Knight and Dana Kreil. Elections will be held in the following divisions: Div. 1 (Bill Ramsay, John Ireland), Div. 3 (Derek Majerech, Mark Visscher, Paula Zobell and Tim Archibald), Div. 4 (Dwayne West and Wendy Griffin), Div. 5 (Gresham Veldhuisen, Roger van Haren and Kenneth White) and lastly Div. 6 (Allan Wilson and Michael Byzitter).

Albertans will head to the polls on Oct. 20 to choose their next mayors, councillors and school board trustees as part of the provincewide municipal election. With nominations now closed, voters are encouraged to confirm their eligibility and register in advance through Elections Alberta’s Voterlink portal. Advance voting opportunities vary by community, so residents are advised to check with their local municipality for details ahead of election day.