This year’s local government elections will not be held for another four months, but one Summerland candidate has already announced her intention to seek the mayor’s chair and there is speculation about who else may seek a position on Summerland’s municipal council or on the board of the Okanagan Skaha School Board.
Toni Boot, who announced her candidacy last week, is the first one to formally declare her intentions in the upcoming election.
But Linda Tynan, chief administrative officer for the municipality, said this announcement is early.
The election will be held on Saturday, Oct. 20 and nominations will not open until Sept. 4. While Elections B.C. lists the election period as Jan. 1 to Sept. 21, the nomination period is much shorter, from Sept. 4 to 14.
The campaign period runs from Sept. 22 to Oct. 20.
In this election, expense limits apply during the campaign period from Sept. 22 to Oct. 20.
In Summerland, the expense limit for a mayoral candidate is $11,651 and for a councillor candidate, it is $5,825.50.
Third-party expense limits for mayor and councillor candidates are limited to $750. This limit applies to advertising about a candidate or elector organization.
This summer, likely in mid-August, the municipality will hold an information session for those considering running for public office, Tynan said. This session will provide an overview of the role of the mayor and councillors.