The mayor of Lacombe has stepped up as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the Lacombe-Ponoka riding after MLA Ray Pins announced on Tuesday that he would not run again.
“Its been a whirlwind the last couple of days,” Steve Christie said on Thursday.
Christie, 46, said he was contacted by the Progressive Conservative Alberta Association on Wednesday and made the decision to run in the afternoon.
Christie will not have to resign as mayor to run but will ask council for a leave of absence once the writ is dropped.
If he is elected as the Lacombe-Ponoka MLA, Christie will then be required to resign as mayor.
“This was not something that was on my radar screen a week ago and I absolutely love being the mayor of the City of Lacombe, but opportunities like this don’t happen every day,” Christie said.
City of Lacombe chief administrative officer Norma MacQuarrie said the city received a letter from Christie asking for a leave of absence.
The letter will be presented to council on Monday evening for its consideration. Upon council’s approval, Coun. Wayne Remple would step up as deputy mayor for the month of April. Coun. Peter Bouwsema would then take the post from May to July.
Lacombe has a rotating schedule for deputy mayors.
After the Lacombe Taxpayers Association asked for council expenses in late January, it came to light that Christie had claimed $500 for a Progressive Conservative fundraiser as a municipal expense. This is not permitted by Elections Alberta.
“That was unfortunate situation that has now been rectified and I voluntarily declared to Elections Alberta as soon as I found that out and it has since been paid back to the city,” Christie said earlier.
jjones@www.reddeeradvocate.com