Ponoka County and a number of in Central Alberta towns will likely be governed by a number of new faces following the municipal elections on Oct. 18.
At least eight candidates are in the running for council positions in every municipality and mayoral races are brewing in most communities, except Ponoka and Sundre.
Familiar face Annette Clews, who has served three terms as a councillor in Sundre and has been in the position of acting mayor since March, was acclaimed as the town’s mayor when nomination day came to a close at noon on Monday.
Clews, who said she was pleasantly surprised no one decided to run against her, may be the only current council member to return next term.
A total of nine individuals are seeking one of the six council positions available in Sundre, with Councillor Patricia Toone being the only incumbent in the running.
“It’s always nice to have new ideas coming into a council,” Clews said on Monday.
“It’s just a different perspective of how things are seen. So things that we may not have thought of in the past could come to light.”
Much like Sundre, the councils in Ponoka County and towns of Ponoka, Rimbey, Three Hills and Trochu will be welcoming some new members.
In fact, Ponoka County and the Town of Ponoka were the only other municipalities to see any acclamations.
Incumbents Gordon Svenningsen and Keith Beebe will reprise their responsibilities as Ponoka County councillors, representing Division 1 and Division 5 respectively.
Three individuals filed nomination forms for both Division 2 and 3, while two are in the running for Division 4. The incumbents for each of these divisions are seeking re-election.
In the Town of Ponoka, Mayor Larry Henkelman was acclaimed to his third term.
A total of 12 nominees — five incumbents and seven new individuals — are in the running for one of the six seats available on Ponoka council.
In Rimbey, three candidates are in the running for mayor, including incumbent Dale Barr who is seeking his fifth term in the top seat. Sheldon Ibbotson and Rick William Pankiw round out the town’s mayoral candidates.
Nine individuals, including three incumbents, are seeking one of the four positions available on Rimbey council.
In Three Hills, 10 candidates have stepped forward for one of the six council seats. New faces will make up at least half of the council as only three incumbents filed nomination forms.
Timothy Shearlaw is battling incumbent Kevin Edwards for the mayor position in Three Hills.
The Town of Trochu will see seven individuals elected to council, with councillors then selecting who will serve as mayor.
A total of 10 candidates are in the running for one of the seven seats, with all but one of the current council members seeking re-election.
ptrotter@www.reddeeradvocate.com