Election day is nearly a month away, but Snow Lake residents already know who will represent the community on town council.
Six people filed papers to run for six open spots on council before the filing deadline on Sept. 18. Each will become councillors through acclamation.
Incumbent and current deputy mayor Penny Roberts will join Shelley Chrapun, Tom Fleming, Sherri Hill, Bill Pleasance and Andrew Smith on the town’s council.
Incumbent mayor Kim Stephen will not run for reelection. Three residents have filed to run for the open spot.
“She did not submit nomination papers. She’s not a declared candidate,” said Rowena Herana, senior election official for the Town of Snow Lake of Stephen.
Two former councillors, Peter Roberts and Jodie Wilson, have each filed papers to run for the town’s highest municipal post, along with newcomer Marian Grajciar.
Stephen became mayor of Snow Lake in 2014 through acclamation.
A forum for mayoral candidates will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 9 at the Snow Lake Community Hall at 7:30 pm. Advance polls will be held Oct. 10 from 8 am to 8 pm. The election will be on Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 8 am to 8 pm at the Snow Lake Town Office.
Along with voting for Snow Lake’s new mayor, residents may also vote in a cannabis plebiscite. The results of the plebiscite will play a role in whether or not the community will allow any cannabis retail operations to open in the community.
“Council had passed a resolution that they were going to hold a cannabis plebiscite,” said Herana.
“They will get two ballots – one for the election and then one that will ask if they would like or prefer not to have [a retail cannabis location].”
