‘It’s not unusual’: Town of Kyle looking for mayoral candidate

While many Saskatchewan cities have multiple names on the ballot for mayor, one town is hoping a candidate will step forward for the municipal election.

Kyle, a town about 70 kilometres north of Swift Current, is still looking for nominees for mayor and one councillor.

Amber Dashney, the Chief Administrative Officer of Kyle, said two rounds of applications have gone out for nominations of mayor with nobody putting their name down.

“It’s a little concerning, but I am confident that someone will step forward,” Dashney said.

Kyle’s Mayor George Williams has been in office since November of 2021, and will retire this year, according to Dashney.

If nobody steps forward as mayor before the election, she said the first meeting of council will start by appointing a deputy mayor.

“At that meeting we will decide on a date for a byelection, and we will continue calling a byelection until we fill the mayor spot and the other councillor spot as well,” Dashney said.

Gordon Barnhart, former President of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), said it can occur from time to time were nobody steps forward for council or mayoral nominations.

“I’m not sure that it’s common, but it’s not unusual,” he said.

He said it can be hard for small communities to find enough people willing and able to run for mayor or for council.

In 2016, Barnhart was elected as a councillor for the Town of Saltcoats — a community 30 kilometres southeast of Yorkton — through a byelection after some convincing from local community members.

Due to several vacant councillor positions, Barnhart said the town risked not meeting quorum at council meetings. He would go on to serve as a councillor in Saltcoats until 2020, before being elected as mayor where he sat until 2022.

“It is really a dedication to your community where you feel that you can make a difference,” Barnhart said.

According to 2021 Statistics Canada census data, the Town of Kyle has population of 413, and the Town of Saltcoats has a population of 473.

While towns and villages have smaller populations to choose from, Barnhart said people’s time and confidence may be factors that prevent people from running for a seat.

In a statement, SUMA said as long as council can maintain quorum, it can continue with meetings.

“While it’s rare, it’s not unheard of for no one to put their name forward for mayor, or for too few people to put their names forward for council,” the statement read. “In nearly all cases, someone will put their name in for the following byelection and the spot will be filled.”

The association said it did not have data on which communities don’t have mayoral candidates for this year.

Voters will head to the municipal election polls on Nov. 13.