Longest ballot ever for RM

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This article was published 21/10/2014 (4185 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Voters in the Municipality of Hillsburg-Roblin-Shell River will have a lot to think about as they head to the polls tomorrow.

A total of 16 candidates — 10 incumbents and six newcomers — are running for six at-large council seats.

“It’s the longest ballot we’ve ever experienced,” senior election official Twyla Ludwig said.

The depth of the field is positive, according to Ludwig, although it’s not without its challenges.

At an all-candidates debate hosted by the Roblin Chamber of Commerce, the sheer number of council hopefuls made it difficult to moderate and get to a number of topics.

Another decision that had to be made was how the ballot would read.

Ludwig decided on a random ballot order, drawing names out sequentially how they would appear on the ballot. The other option under the Elections Act is to go with a rotating ballot, by which names are alphabetically ordered but scroll one spot from ballot to ballot.

“For ease of counting for the election workers, random order is a little easier,” she said.

Voters will also pick between Wade Schott, who is currently a councillor in the Municipality of Roblin, and Robert Misko, reeve of the RM of Hillsburg, for the head of council position.

And they’re not done there. A plebiscite will be held to choose a name for the new municipality, which amalgamates Hillsburg, Roblin and Shell River.

While some amalgamated municipalities have decided to institute a ward system to ensure each former municipality has representation, Ludwig said a committee formed to oversee the merger believed it was important to think of the whole rather than the parts.

“The decision was made because it gives every voter an opportunity to put seven voices around the table that they feel are the best seven that will represent them,” Ludwig said. “We’re hoping it’s a step in the right direction to get rid of any venomous attitudes.”

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LIST OF CANDIDATES

OAKVIEW

Head of Council: Terry Drebit, Brent Fortune

Rapid City (2): Lloyd Evans, Ken Hyndman, Neil Wilson

Saskatchewan (2): Butch Hales, Gavin Reynolds, Ted Rudneski, Kaye Wolstenholme

Blanshard (2): Stephen Carter, Ewan Common, Walter Froese, Mark Gill, Gary Stewart

LUD Oak River (3): David Buillock, Ernie McKay, Marilyn Reid

LUD Rapid City (3): Ron Burnell, Jay Woloski, Orest Woloski

HAMIOTA

Head of Council: Randy Lints, Larry Oakden

Council (6): Richard Arnold, Todd Brown, Kenneth Lawn, Terry Lee, Linda Little, Reg Madsen, Wayne Mathison, Tim Weber, Linda Wilson

PRAIRIE VIEW

Head of Council: Linda Clark

Miniota (3): David Howard, Darcy Oliver, Lyle Salmon

RM of Birtle (2): Charles Bertram, Morely Butler

Birtle (2): Gaspard Fiddler, Michael Fulcher, Marcella Irwin, Ken Wilander, Roger Wilson

LUD Miniota (3): Rita Armitage, Jaime Brown, Loree Gardham, Jeff Poppel

ELLICE-ARCHIE

Head of Council: Guy Huberdeau, Barry Lowes

St. Lazare (1): Laurent Fouillard

Ellice (3): Denis Fouillard, Angelo Fouillard, Gabriel Huberdeau, Jean-Marc Lemoine

Archie (3): Gordon Bowey, Wendy Davidson, Marcel Gagnon, Bryon Judd, Melissa Pateman, Ray Towler

LUD St. Lazare: No candidates

YELLOWHEAD

Head of Council: John Hogg, Don Yanick

Ward 1 (4): Ken Charney, Ron Gerelus, Paulette Koroscil, Ernie Peleshok, Steve Shwaluk, Merv Starzyk

Ward 2 (3): Greg Arnfinson, Debbie Eastcott, Ryan Knight

LUD Elphinstone: Dwayne Bain, Sylvia Dziver, Mitch Kilgour, Clarence Rudiak

HARRISON-PARK

Head of Council: Lloyd Ewashko, Ray Frey

Harrison (3): Darrell Barr, Bruce Dalgarno, Bill Huston, Richard Lewandoski, Virginia Shemeliuk, Doreen Stapleton, Kirk Ziemianski

Park (3): Craig Atkinson, Ron Budiwski, Jim Dudman, George Hodges, Dennis Jones

LUD Newdale: Mona Moyer, Dale Smith

LUD Sandy Lake: Nancy Dilts, Ian Drul

ROSSBURN

Head of Council: Brian Brown, Shirley Kalyniuk

Ward 1 (3): Bill Antonow, Ron Kostesky, Kalvin Kreshewski, Lawrence Maduke, Dallas Miller, Edward Mychasiw

Ward 2 (3): Alan Antoniw, Dennis Kaskiw, John Kostecki, Manley Mackedenski, Tony White

RUSSELL-BINSCARTH

Head of Council: Len Derkatch

RM of Russell (2): Cheryl Kingdon-Chartier, Barry Wishart

Binscarth (2): Brent Burton, Rene Cadieux, Marg Fraser

Russell (4): Nicolas Foisy, Brent Havelange, Robert Laferriere, Damien McNabb, Chris Radford, Andrew Smith

RIDING MOUNTAIN WEST

Head of Council: Barry Chescu

Ward 1 (1): David Wray

Ward 2 (1): Barry Wowk

Ward 3 (1): Grant Boryskavich

Ward 4 (1): Scott Davidson

Ward 5 (1): Kathy Bennett, Todd Eckert

Ward 6 (1): Bret Bauereiss

Ward 7 (1): Tom Dudman, Roy Ziprick

Ward 8 (1): Jordan Bodnariuk

LUD Angusville: Rebecca Blue, Cheryl Rubeniuk

LUD Inglis: Dwight Brown, Allan Zimmer

HILLSBURG-ROBLIN-SHELL RIVER

Head of Council: Robert Misko, Wade Schott

Council (6): Mike Allarie, Jeremy Andres, Ryan Beerman, Tom Bowley, Doug Cranwell, Michael Friesen, Jack Lenderbeck, Alex Lichkowski, Dallas Mench, Irene Mitchell, Craig Mohr, Conway Nernberg, Betty Nykyforak, Dean Salyn, Dale Scott, Albert Watson

GRANDVIEW

Head of Council: Kevin Edmondson, Clifford Kutzan, David Minschull, Lyle Morran

Ward 1 (1): Nick Fiarchuk, Arnie Hallaren

Ward 2 (1): No candidate

Ward 3 (1): Keith Storey, Dave VanderMeer

Ward 4 (1): Wayne Banting, Dwayne Bomak

Ward 5 (4): Tom Bohun, Jennifer Carniel, Cameron Dingwall, Tracy Grexton-Van Wynsberghe, Jim Winfield

GILBERT PLAINS

Head of Council: James Michaluk, Blake Price

Urban (4): Sharon Basaraba, Aaron Dykun, Ike Krahn, Barry Randell, Jerry Sherman, Jody Smelski-Jubervill, Lyle Smith, John Zaplitny

Rural (2): Dan Bassett, Lyall Bates, David Dykun, Jim Manchur, Marvin Shumka, Dwayne Sydor, Craig VonBargen, Anthony Yurkiw

ETHELBERT

Head of Council: Mary Paziuk,

Art Potoroka, Marcel St. Germain

Council (4): Sharon MacDonald, Larry Dudar, Andre Kondakor, Donna Kulbacki, Arlen Rehaluk, Johnny Rushinka, Shawnalee Semchyshyn, Mike Semeniuk, David Semeniuk, Ken Shewchuk