Canadian Town Struggles To Find A Mayor As No One Steps Up

As the November municipal election approaches, the small town of Kyle in Saskatchewan, Canada, faces an unexpected issue: no candidates have emerged for the mayor’s position, according to CKOM.COM.

Current Mayor George Williams, who took office in November 2021, is set to resign, leaving the position vacant. Additionally, there are no nominees for any Town Council roles. Two rounds of candidate applications aimed at encouraging mayoral nominations have yielded no interest so far, according to Chief Administrative Officer Amber Dashney.

“It’s a little concerning, but I am confident that someone will step forward,” Dashney told CKOM.COM.

If the mayoral position remains unfilled by the election on November 13, the council will appoint a deputy mayor to take on the responsibilities.

“At that meeting, we will decide on a date for a by-election, and we will continue calling a by-election until we fill the mayor spot and the other councilor spot, as well,” Dashney added.

Gordon Barnhart, a former President of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), noted that it’s not unusual for no one to come forward for council or mayoral nominations, although it doesn’t happen frequently.

“I’m not sure that it’s common, but it’s not unusual,” he stated.

He explained that smaller communities often struggle to find enough candidates willing and able to run for mayor or council. Barnhart himself was elected as a councillor for the Town of Saltcoats in 2016 through a by-election after being encouraged by local residents.

“It is really a dedication to your community where you feel that you can make a difference,” Barnhart remarked.

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada census, the Town of Kyle has a population of 413, while Saltcoats has 473 residents. Barnhart suggested that the small population and individuals’ time constraints and confidence could hinder people from running for office.

In a statement, SUMA mentioned that as long as the council can maintain quorum, meetings can continue.

“While it’s rare, it’s not unheard of for no one to put their name forward for mayor, or for too few people to put their names forward for council,” the statement read. “In nearly all cases, someone will put their name in for the following by-election and the spot will be filled.”