A Sicamous councillor has decided to challenge for the top job at the municipality.
Terry Rysz, who has served three years with the current council, announced he will be seeking the mayor’s chair.
“I’ve made the decision because one of my main concerns is continuity going forward. There’s things we have been working on for three years and are partially done and I’d like to see them completed.”
Rysz says his experience as both deputy mayor and chair of the finance committee has provided him with the important background needed to make a bid for mayor.
“I think it is important to have spent time on council,” says the recent retiree, “It’s a four-year commitment this time round, so now I’m at a place where I can give the job my full attention, if I am elected.”
Nomination packages for the November municipal election are currently available at Sicamous City Hall, but a number of the current members of council remain on the fence about their intentions.
Coun. Joan Thomson says she’s still debating whether to put her name forward again, while Coun. Don Richardson is doing the same.
“At this time I’m indecisive. I have mixed feelings, but I think there are great things coming up for this community, so I’m weighing my options,” Richardson told the News.
Coun. Suzanne Carpenter, who was elected in a by-election in September 2013 after Greg Kyllo was elected as MLA, is also undecided.
“I have not committed to run at the moment, there are a few outstanding issues that I am looking into personally so I will not know for a couple of weeks,” she said.
But there’s going to be a pair of familiar names on the ballot — Coun. Fred Busch, who has been part of municipal leadership at the district since 1996 and Coun. Charlotte Hutchinson, who has served for four years, one following a byelection and three with the current council.
November will mark the end of his sixth term in office, but Busch says he’s still interested in the job.
“I had never intended when I first ran in 1996, that it would be for this long, but it grows on you. I enjoy it and I feel I still have a contribution to make.”
Hutchinson says she is looking ahead.
“I believe things are picking up and that it will be an exciting time for Sicamous.”
Across B.C., general elections have been held every three years for mayors, councillors, regional district electoral area directors and school board trustees. This year, the B.C. government changed the term of elected municipal, school and regional representatives to four years.
People eligible for municipal office must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on election day, have lived in B.C. for at least 6 months and have not been disqualified from voting in a B.C. election.
Candidates must be nominated by two qualified electors for the position of mayor or councillor. Nomination packages are available from the District of Sicamous municipal office, and must be filed at the district office between 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30 and 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10. A nomination deposit of $100 is required.
General voting day is Saturday, Nov. 15 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the District of Sicamous building at 446 Main Street.
