There will be a race for the mayor’s seat in Smithers, as there are two candidates after the deadline passed for candidates to declare.
Incumbent Cress Farrow has his name in the running again, and will be competing against soon-to-be ex-Telkwa councillor Taylor Bachrach — Bachrach recently moved to Smithers from Telkwa.
Meanwhile Smithers council will see a race between 12 candidates for six spots. The candidates are Norm Adomeit, Mark Bandstra, Phil Brienesse, Pauline Goertzen, Bill Goodacre, Scott Groves, Charlie Northrup, Dan Mesec, Michael Sawyer, Cheryl Ann Stahel, Ken White and Frank Wray.
In Telkwa it will be no contest for mayor as current mayor, Carman Graf, sits as the sole applicant for the job.
The five people going after a seat on the four-person council are Adam Ethier, Rick Fuerst, Brady Layton, John McDivitt and Rimas Zitkauskas.
With only two of Telkwa council’s incumbents running, their composition after the election is guaranteed to be shaken up. Another former Telkwa councillor, Jim Hiltz, recently stepped down from the position due to health concerns.
In the Bulkley Valley School District (#54), Priscilla Michell is the only candidate seeking to represent Zone 1 — Lake Kathlyn, Evelyn, Moricetown. Four people are going after the three spots for Zone 2 — Smithers, Glentanna, Driftwood; those candidates are Lara Collingwood, Frank Farrell, Victor Jim and Kim Martinsen.
Judy McIntosh is acclaimed for Zone 3 — Telkwa, Quick. The two spots for Zone 4 — Houston will be taken by Les Kearns and Sheryl Yaremco.
There’s a long list of candidates for the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District. Going after Electoral Area A is Eugene Bekar, Shelley Browne, and Stoney Stoltenberg. Area B is acclaimed by Bill Miller. Acclaimed for Area C is Tom Greenaway. Ralph Roy is acclaimed for Area D, and Jerry Petersen in Area F. In Area G, Lance Hamblin and Rob Newell will be competing for the spot.
Candidates for the Fort Fraser Local Community Commission are Linda Cochran, William Cochran, Colleen DeLong, Judy LaRocque and David Webster.