Nominations are officially open for the Nov. 15 municipal election, and interest in running may be down slightly in Langley Township.
As of Wednesday, 19 nomination packages for council and 10 for school board had been picked up, said Bob Wilson, the Township’s chief election officer.
Of those 19, several had expressed possible interest in running for mayor, but so far only incumbent Jack Froese has filed his papers.
In 2011, there were 41 names on the ballot in Langley Township, including all those vying for the mayor’s seat, eight council seats, and five school board seats. There were three mayoral candidates, 27 council candidates, and 11 school board candidates.
There is only one slate announced to run so far this year, with Live Langley’s Clint Lee and Kerri Ross having said they will run.
The deadline to file as a candidate is Oct. 10, at 4 p.m., said Wilson.
The election will be held on Nov. 15 and there are 75,676 eligible voters in Langley Township. Wilson has been keeping an eye on voter numbers in
Willoughby, where he added 200 names to voter rolls over four months, and expects more.
There are a few changes to polling places this year. A new voting location will be opened at Glenwood Elementary.
The polling place at R.E. Mountain Secondary will be moved to Lynn Fripps Elementary.
Voter turnout was around 25 per cent in 2011. Some areas were as high as 30 per cent, but other polling places, including R.C. Garnett Elementary, were as low as 18 or 19 per cent, said Wilson.
Langley City will only have one polling place, at Nicomekl Elementary.
“We’ve been able to accommodate everyone at the one polling station,†said the City’s chief electoral officer Carolyn Mushata.
Langley City’s ballot will have space for six councillors, one mayor, and two spots for the Langley school board. City and Township school board members combine and serve together.
Randy Caine, owner of the City’s Hempyz Gifts and Novelties, has filed his papers to run for mayor. Acting Mayor Ted Schaffer is also expected to run.