Name drawn from hat | Unconventional decision part of municipal elections held in Saskatchewan
Two candidates running for a council seat in the Rural Municipality of Swift Current saw their campaigns end with an act of random chance.
When the final votes were tallied in the Oct. 24 municipal elections in Saskatchewan, Chad Salter and Chad Tait, running in Division 5, were tied with 54 votes each.
Election regulations in the province dictate that in the event of a tie, the returning officer, in the presence of another individual, write the names of the candidates on separate pieces of paper and select a winner by withdrawing a name from a “receptacle.”
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In last week’s draw, Salter emerged the victor.
“It’s archaic or whatever you want to call it. I guess it brings everything to a head. The decision is made that night and that’s the way it is,” said Robert Neufeld, who was re-elected to his second term as reeve in the RM, defeating Trent Regier by 44 votes. Six-hundred and sixty-four votes were cast.
He’s joined by Salter and two other first-time councillors.
In the RM, divisions 3 and 5 saw more than one candidates vie for a council seat, while the division 1 seat was acclaimed.
Large numbers of the reeve and council positions went uncontested in elections in Saskatchewan’s 296 rural municipalities. Election results are available online on the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities website.
“I think this is probably the largest turnout we’ve had in a municipal election,” said Neufeld.
The relationship between the RM and the City of Swift Current was a big issue in the election.
The proposed annexation of RM land and non-resident user fees for recreational facilities in the city were contentious issues for residents, said Neufeld.
Swift Current mayor Jerrod Schafer will return to his post after being acclaimed.
“I campaigned out there that we can co-operate with the city, but not on the backs of the rural ratepayers.”
