Alexander residents will find out who’s on their ballot this week as nominations for band elections come to a close.
Band council announced on July 11 that it would hold a general election on Aug. 11. This is a change from the last three elections, which were all held in September.
Six seats plus the chief’s position are up for grabs and open to anyone who wins a nomination this Thursday.
Any band member who is 21 years of age or over and has lived in Alexander for at least 30 days is eligible to vote and run in the election, said electoral officer Marvin Yellow Horn, a member of the Piikani Nation west of Lethbridge. Anyone who wants to run for office has to be nominated by an eligible voter at the community hall this Thursday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
There were no declared candidates as of Tuesday morning, Yellow Horn said. That’s a change from the 2008 election, when every council member announced their intentions within days of the writ being dropped. That race was also hotly contested, with some 46 people putting forth their names for chief or council on nomination day.
One of the seats on council is currently vacant. Coun. Henry Arcand died earlier this year, said Coun. Sheldon Arcand, and council left his seat vacant out of respect for his family.
Sheldon Arcand, who just completed his first term in office, said he was not sure if he would run again. Chief Allan Paul and councillors Bernard Paul, Kurt Burnstick, Martin Arcand and Norman Kootenay did not respond to requests for an interview.
Roughly 400 people will be eligible to vote in this election, Yellow Horn said. Voting guidelines are posted in the band’s office.
Any questions on the election should be directed to Yellow Horn at 403-370-0272.
