There are two-and-a-half months before the municipalities, regional districts and school boards in British Columbia go to election.
Here in Williams Lake we could have as many as three candidates running for the mayor’s job and I hear so many names popping up for those wishing to run as a councillor.
In the top job in Williams Lake, Mayor Kerry Cook will run for the position once again and her opposition will be current 21-year councillor Surinderpal Rathor.
There is also the persistent gossip that former councillor, mayor and MLA Walt Cobb will once again throw his hat in the ring.
Cobb and Rathor — either one could give current Mayor Kerry Cook a good run if there were only two hats thrown into the mayoralty ring.
In the last election, Walt Cobb and Scott Nelson split the vote allowing Cook to come up the middle and pick up a win.
There are many stories floating around the community on who will run for councillor positions this term.
Here’s some of the names that have been passed on to me in political conversations.
Scott Nelson, Jason Ryll, Craig Smith, Peter Bowman, Bobbi Jo Macnair, Wayne Lucier and some of those already on council, like Ivan Bonnell, Laurie Walters and Sue Zacharias. Danica Hughes and Surinder Rathor will not be running.
What will be the issues that will drive this election?
Would it be the economy of the community, including our debt?
It may be taxes. Ours have increased considerably.
Perhaps it may be the overall management of city affairs.
Did the city manage the Don DeGagne hiring and firing episode last year in a proper manner, or is this one going to cost the taxpayers a bundle of dollars?
The city has had three administrators in the last term of council.
Maybe crime and fire protection will also be topics of discussion during this election.
There are some folks in our town that want to throw out the council completely along with the mayor. They apparently will be making some noise coming closer to election time.
There does not appear to be a lot of discussion regarding school board and regional district elections at this point, although I have heard that Ted Armstrong of Quesnel may be challenged.
I do know that Steve Forseth, alternate director of the CRD, will be running for a position this fall as the current director is stepping down.
Lots of rumours and many folks coming out of the woodwork for the 2014 civic elections in Williams Lake and area. Stay Tuned.
Ken Wilson is a freelance columnist with the Tribune/Weekend Advisor.
