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Who wants to be mayor? Quite a few southern Albertans, apparently.
Nominations filed Monday have triggered two-way or threeway races in a number of communities across the south.
In Coaldale, incumbent Kim Craig is in a two-man race with longtime firefighter Jack Van Rijn. In Fort Macleod, controversial mayor Rene Gendre will be up against Brett Feyter and Bill Kells.
A three-way race is also shaping up in Raymond, where retired mayor George Bohne will be succeeded by Jim Depew or Cathy Greep Needham — two councillors on the outgoing council — or Brian Eakett.
Resigned mayor Henk De Vlieger in Taber will see the gavel of office passed to either Andrew Prokop or Randy Sparks. And 11 candidates have filed papers to run for the town’s six councillor seats.
Closer to home, incumbent Lethbridge County Reeve Lorne Hickey will be running against Greg Farries, Jack Peterson and Mark Vaselenak in hopes of retaining his Division 1 seat — and an opportunity for reelection as reeve when the new council meets. Three of the other six divisions have been won by acclamation.
There’s also a three-way race for the top job in Claresholm, with Betty Fieguth, Mike McAlonan and Doug MacPherson in the running. The incumbent, Rob Steel is not seeking another term.
Two people — Victor Haddad and Peggy Losey — are on the Milk River ballot to succeed Mayor David Howco, who is not running. And in Magrath, Russ Barnett and Brett Nish are seeking the mayor’s position.
If there are any “safe seats” in the Lethbridge area, perhaps they’re in Picture Butte or Vulcan.
In Picture Butte, incumbent councillor Cathy Moore was acclaimed mayor Monday when she became the only one filing for the job.
And in Vulcan, Tom Grant was also declared elected by acclamation — but it’s not clear who he’ll lead. Town officials will reopen the nomination process again this morning, in hopes of registering at least enough candidates to fill the six council seats.
In all Alberta communities, candidates who filed papers Monday have until noon today to change their mind. Election day across the province will be Oct. 16, with advance polls planned in Lethbridge and other centres.