Mayor, four of five incumbents re-elected in Claresholm

By Rob Vogt

The people have spoken, and they are giving the mayor and four out of five incumbents another term on Claresholm town council. Elections were held on Monday, Oct. 11, for mayor and town council in Claresholm and Nanton; councillors in Division 2 and 5 of the Municipal District of Willow Creek; and trustees in Ward 1 of the Livingstone Range School Division.

Claresholm
Current Claresholm Mayor Brad Schlossberger won the contest for mayor with 671 votes, ahead of challenger Lon Hall who received 490 votes.

The race for council saw newcomer Seth Wagner earn the largest number of votes with 792. Joining him on council will be newcomer David Knox who received 681 votes; and incumbents Kandice Meister with 655 votes; Rod Kettles with 633 votes; Kieth Carlson with 589 votes; and Craig Zimmer with 565 votes.

Those not elected were incumbent Diana Ross who garnered 462 votes; Arnie ter Mors with 455 votes; Ryley Jodoin with 446 votes; Charlie Milazzo with 393 votes; and Sherwood Layton with 309 votes.

Nanton
Sitting Nanton Mayor Jennifer Handley was re-elected with 501 votes, ahead of challenger Suzanne Thomasson who received 297 votes.

Newcomer Jennie McMasters earned the largest number of votes for town council with 527. She will be joined on council by incumbent David Mitchell who received 506 votes; Shauna Strong with 498 votes; Erin Shields with 490 votes; and incumbents Roger Miller with 452 votes and Victor Czop with 440 votes.

Not elected to council were Rick Everett who received 391 votes and Nicolle McKenna who had 372 votes.

M.D. of Willow Creek
Cecilie Fleming will be the new councillor in Division 2 of the Municipal District of Willow Creek, as she earned 159 votes, while incumbent John Kroetsch received 98 votes.

Incumbent Earl Hemmaway won another term as councillor for Division 5, receiving 104 votes while challenger Michael Neufeld got 64 votes.

Livingstone Range School Division
All three incumbents were re-elected in Ward 1 of the Livingstone Range School Division. Kathy Charchun lead the way with 906 votes; Brad Toone received 874 votes; and Carla Gimber had 664 votes. Newcomers Greg Graves, who received 577 votes, and Kevin Todd, who had 561 votes, were not elected.