On Deputy Mayor Bjorkman’s Facebook Page he has made the following statement shortly after the discussion at council.
“ELECT! RE-ELECT!! INCUMBENT!!! ?????At Monday nights council meeting there was a discussion regarding who had the right to use the term RE-Elect on their signs and advertisements for the upcoming and future elections. Our clerk is also our returning officer for the election and as such enjoys an arms length independence of council when reviewing the Municipal Act with regard to elections and rules. This is intended to keep the politicians from setting their own rules and coming into conflict. The returning officers opinion based on the legal definitions of elected officials, incumbents and office holders is that they are looked upon equally once they are occupying an elected seat regardless of how they got there. Elected by residents, elected by sitting council or appointed by council. The purpose of my post is to make clear as I have said before (should I run in the next election), I will NOT use the term “RE-ELECT” for Deputy Mayor. I have been elected a Ward 1 and Ward 3 councillor by the residents and those are the only seats I would consider using re-elect for.”
Mayor Meloche has not made a similar statement… Why?
My Opinion is Re-Elect Should Only be Used in a Public Election, Not Through Appointing by Council Colleagues. Sherry Bondy
Re-Elect SHOULD mean by the People….
In response to the Clerk’s department being questioned on the use of re-elect on a candidate’s signs in the 2018 election, the following explanation was given.
“It is inaccurate to say that this position has never been previously an elected position… the only change that has taken place with respect to this position is the “method” of electing but it has always been an elected position filled by someone duly elected.
It is more accurate to say that it has never been previously elected from “at large” but it has always been an elected position in that prior to this election the members of council (all of whom have been elected by the electors) elect from amongst themselves which elected official will also represent as Deputy Mayor.
This prior method of electing the Deputy is pursuant to the Town’s procedural bylaw as passed by the members of council being officials duly elected by the voters. The voters accordingly (and by way of the procedural bylaw) previously delegated the election of the Deputy Mayor position to their duly elected members of council and so the voters indirectly via their elected officials have always elected the Deputy Mayor position from amalgamation to the 2014 election.”
I Believe We Deserve Better
I am of the opinion that using the word Re-Elect is misleading and can lead to members of the public believing that the person using re-elect was actually elected in a general election. Re-elect should only be used when someone has won a general election and they are seeking re-election of the same seat in a general election or by-election. Do not confuse re-elect with appoint. Appointing is when council colleagues choose someone to represent them. There is no public choice in this process as the responsibly rests with council and council alone. In my opinion, the two mean very different things in democracy.
Concerns from the Public in 2018:
(Obtained through a Freedom of Information Act Request therefore public document)
I Have Entered a Notice of Motion at Council to Discuss:
Our Recent Conversation at Council, Starting at the 22 Minute Mark-
Note how it was NOT a welcomed conversation….
