The Town of Creighton is rescheduling a byelection after no residents filed papers before deadline to run for a vacant town council seat.
After the initial filing deadline on Aug. 29, Paula Muench, chief administrative officer for the town and the election returning officer, confirmed no submissions had been made.
“Now we have to hold a notice of call for further nominations. To do that, you have to give at least 10 days of notice,” she said.
The new deadline for byelection filing will be Sept. 12 at 4 pm, exactly two weeks after the initial call.
Finalized election dates have not been officially announced, but if at least two candidates file, advance polls will likely be held on Oct. 3, with the final election day happening on Oct. 17 – two weeks after the originally scheduled dates.
If only one candidate files for the election, they will receive a spot on town council through acclamation and will be sworn in at an upcoming town council meeting. If no candidates file, then the dates for the filing deadline, advance poll and election day will be moved forward again.
All candidates have to be current Creighton residents and must have lived in the community for at least six months prior to filing papers at the town office.
The byelection is being held to fill the seat of the late Creighton councillor Shirley Owen. A longtime Creighton resident who was active in multiple volunteer and community causes, Owen died in July after a fight with illness. Owen was in the middle of her third term with council and continued to attend council meetings and contribute to local causes while undergoing treatment.
