Warfield voters will be choosing a new mayor in the new year.
Current mayor Ted Pahl will be resigning on Dec. 31 which means the election process will begin shortly after the holiday season.
It is with heavy heart that Pahl announced he will no longer fill the role he’s been in since November 2014.
“In July of this year my employment with Kootenay Savings unfortunately came to an end,” Pahl told the Trail Times. “As a result I started looking for another employment opportunity. In October of this year I started dialogue with a credit union in P.E.I. to become their Chief Executive Officer,” he confirmed. “It is a great opportunity for me and I have accepted the position.”
Pahl says he has thoroughly enjoyed his time both with the village and on the regional district board.
“Our village has enjoyed several successes such as recreation and the creation of our pump track,” he said. “For myself, I enjoyed working with this council and developing relationships with the local municipal and regional leaders in the Kootenay and boundary.”
Serving as mayor has been an honour, he added.
“I wish the incoming mayor and council much success as they continue what has begun.”
The first job of Warfield council come January will be to appoint a Chief Election Officer (CEO), as local government requires the action “as soon as practical after a vacancy occurs.”
Once that role is filled, the CEO must set a general voting day, which has to be on a Saturday no later than 80 days after the CEO’s appointment.
When those dates are set, but not more than 30 days before the nomination period begins, the CEO must issue a notice of nomination (in the newspaper), clarified Warfield Corporate Officer Jackie Patridge.
The period for receiving nominations begins at 9 a.m., 46 days ahead of election date, then ends at 4 p.m. 10 days later.
Candidates are then announced and there will be two advance polling opportunities.
But nothing will start until council appoints a CEO in January, Patridge reiterated.
