Local Government Elections

Saturday, November 15, 2008
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The results of the November 15 election will be posted in our Recent News section as soon as they are available. Please click on Recent News for the results.

In Ladysmith, residents will elect a Mayor and six Councillors, as well as vote for School Trustees for School District 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith.) All positions are for a three-year term.

In British Columbia, municipal elections are held every three years and are conducted according to the rules and regulations set out in the Local Government Act, which covers local government elections throughout B.C.

The Town of Ladysmith uses electronic voting machines. Voting for candidates is still done by hand, on specially prepared ballots, but the vote counting is done electronically. Manual counts of each and every vote are no longer required, which means the vote tally can be calculated within minutes of the close of polls. The paper ballots are still retained in the event that a recount, whether electronic or manual, is required.

The information below is updated regularly as the election approaches. Please check back often. For more information, please call or e-mail our Chief Election Officer Sandy Bowden (250.245.6404; sbowden@ladysmith.ca) or our Deputy Election Officer Rebecca Kalina (250.245.6413; rkalina@ladysmith.ca) or drop by City Hall at 410 Esplanade, Ladysmith.

This election, voters in Ladysmith will also be asked to vote on a referendum for the Cowichan Valley Parks Acquisition Fund. The Town of Ladysmith is part of the Cowichan Valley Regional District (our Mayor sits as a Director of the CVRD Board), so the outcome of the referendum could affect you. for more information about the referendum question, the topic and the Cowichan Valley Regional District, click on the following link:

• www.cvrd.bc.ca/referendum.htm

For more detailed information, click on one of the topics below, or simply scroll down to read all the information.

Who can vote?

How do I register to vote?

Who can run for office?

How do you become a candidate?

List of candidates

When and where do I vote?

Important dates

Where can I learn more about Local Government?

For general information about municipal elections in British Columbia produced by the Provincial government, click to follow this link: www.cd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/index.htm

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Who can vote?

You can vote in the election as a resident elector if, on general voting day, you:

• are 18 years of age or more; and
• are a Canadian citizen; and
• have lived in British Columbia for at least six months before you register to vote; and
• have lived in the town of Ladysmith for 30 days or more; and
• are not disqualified from voting in an election, or otherwise disqualified by law.

You can vote as a Non-Resident Property Elector in the Town of Ladysmith if you are:

• age 18 or older; and
• a Canadian citizen; and
• a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration; and
• a registered owner of real property in the Town of Ladysmith for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration; and
• not entitled to register as a resident elector; and
• not disqualified by any enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law; and
• if there is more than one registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the other owners, register as a non-resident property elector

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How do I register to vote?

If you are not sure if your name is on the current List of Electors, you can find out by calling or visiting City Hall at 410 Esplanade, Ladysmith B.C.; 250-245-6400. The office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). If your name is not on the List of Electors and you are a qualified voter, you may register at the voting place immediately before you vote.

To register to vote, you must bring at least two documents that provide evidence of your identity and your place of residence. At least one of the documents must contain your signature.

Types of acceptable documents include

BC Driver's Licence		Bank Debit Card
BC Care Card		Telephone, hydro or cable bill
Social Insurance Card		Real Property Tax notice
Credit Card

For more information, click on the link for the BC Government Voters Guide - [PDF 165KB]

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Who can run for office?

You may run for any local government office if you:

• are a Canadian citizen;
• are at least 18 years old on election day;
• have lived in British Columbia for at least six months; and
• have not been disqualified from voting in this election.

You do not have to live or own property in the jurisdiction in which you are running for office.

You may not run for local government office if you:

• are a judge of the Provincial Court, Supreme Court or Court of Appeal;
• are an employee or salaried officer of that local government, unless you have taken a leave of absence to run for office and agree to resign if elected;
• are under sentence for an indictable offence and are in custody or in prison;
• have been found guilty of an elections offence, such as double voting or buying votes, and are prohibited from holding office; or
• have been disqualified from this election for failing to:
  • file a disclosure statement in a previous election;
  • make an oath of office; or
  • attend meetings.

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How do you become a candidate?

Nomination Process

The nomination period begins at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 and ends on Friday October 10th 2008 at 4:00 p.m. Nomination packages can be picked up at Ladysmith City Hall until October 10th. Completed nomination packages must be delivered to City Hall at 410 Esplanade by 4:00 pm, Friday October 10, 2008.

Those persons unable to deliver nominations in person may mail, deliver or fax them to the attention of the Chief Election Officer by the October 10, 2008 deadline (Fax 250-286-5760). If sent by facsimile, the original must be received by October 17, 2008 at 4:30 p.m.

Qualifications to run for Local Government Office

To qualify as a candidate for local government office, at the time of nomination a person must meet the following criteria:

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
• Canadian Citizen;
• Resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day nomination papers are filed; and
• Not be disqualified by any enactment from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.

The nomination period for this year’s local government election is open from 9:00 a.m. on September 30th to 4:00 p.m. on October 10th. If you are interested in running in the election please be sure to submit your nomination papers to the Chief Election Officer prior to the deadline.

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List of candidate

Click on this link for a Local Elections Candidates Guide produced by the Province of BC -- BC Government Candidate Guide - [PDF 283KB]

Nomination papers have been submitted for the following candidates:

• Mayor:
  HUTCHINS, Rob
  
  
• Councillor:
  ARNETT, Steve
  BASTIAN, Scott
  DASHWOOD, Jillian
  EVANS, Lori Christine
  JONAS, Sean
  LOMAS, Rod
  MELVIN, Thea Elaina
  MILLAR, Maureen
  PATERSON, Duck (Don)
  WHITTINGTON, Bruce
  
  
• School Trustee:
  ALLEN, Donna
  ALLEN, Nelson E.
  AVIS, Bruce
  BAIRD-KRUL, Carol
  BONKOWSKI, Andrea
  BRENNAN, Jamie
  DALE, Ron
  GRIBBLE, Nina
  HENNIG, Tony
  LOFEUDO, Virginia
  McNAMEE, Carol
  MURCHIE, David
  NEARY, Dot
  ROBINSON, Mark
  WAKEFIELD, Julie
  WELCH, Sharon
  
  

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When and where do I vote?

Ladysmith’s Voting Station on Saturday, November 15 will be at the Frank Jameson Community Centre, 810 – 6th Avenue, Ladysmith.

The station will be open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

If you are unable to vote on Election Day, advance voting opportunities will be held on Wednesday November 5 and Wednesday November 12 at Ladysmith City Hall, 410 Esplanade, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Mail Ballot Voting

If you will be away from Ladysmith on Election Day and during both Advance Voting opportunities (November 5th and 12th) you will still have the opportunity to vote using a mail-in ballot. To request a mail-in ballot and registration package please contact City Hall at 250.245.6400, or drop in to pick one up. Please note that ballots will be mailed out on November 3, 2008, so you must request yours before that date.

For your ballot to be counted it is your responsibility to ensure that it is received at Ladysmith City Hall no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2008
or
delivered to the Chief Election Officer at the Frank Jameson Community Centre voting place, 810 – 6th Avenue, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday November 15, 2008.

Assistance with Voting and Curbside Voting

If a voter has difficulty reading or writing English, they may bring a translator to assist them in the voting process. The translator must complete a solemn declaration of assistance in order to provide translation assistance.

If you are unable to enter the voting place, you may ask to receive and mark your ballot at a place located outside the voting place (curbside voting). It will be necessary for you to bring someone with you who can advise the election officials that you need help outside the voting place.

If you need help with voting, you may ask the Chief Election Officer in charge at the voting place to assist you. You may also bring someone with you to the voting place to help you vote. This person must make a solemn declaration to preserve the secrecy of your ballot, to mark the ballot according to your wishes and to not attempt to influence how you vote.

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Important dates

In order to be eligible to vote, must be a resident of BC six months prior to the election		May 15, 2008
In order to be eligible to vote, must be a resident of Ladysmith one month prior to the election		October 15, 2008
Nomination packages will be available		September 12, 2008
Nomination period begins		September 30th 9:00 a.m.
Nomination period ends		October 10th 4:00 p.m.
Deadline for challenge of nominations		October 14th 4:00 p.m.
Deadline for withdrawal of candidates and withdrawal of elector organization endorsement		October 17th
Declaration of election by voting (press release/website)		October 20th 4:00 p.m.
Advance Voting Poll – Ladysmith City Hall		November 5th 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Advance Voting Poll – Ladysmith City Hall		November 12th 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Local Government Election Day Frank Jameson Community Centre		November 15th 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Inaugural Council Meeting (held in Council Chambers)		December 1st

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Where can I learn more about Local Government?

For general information about municipal elections in British Columbia produced by the Provincial government, click to follow this link: www.cd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/index.htm