With the nomination deadline just days away, the shape of Tantramar’s municipal election is beginning to take form – and in some wards, there may be no vote at all.
Hear the audio below:
Candidates for mayor and council have until 2 p.m. on Friday, April 10 to file their nomination papers.
So far, only one candidate has come forward in both Ward 1, which covers Dorchester and its surrounding area, and Ward 4, which includes communities further north such as Cookville and Midgic.
If no additional candidates register before the deadline, those seats will be filled by acclamation, meaning no election will be required in those wards.
Other areas are seeing more competition. Ward 2 and Ward 5 each currently have two candidates, while Ward 3 has the largest field, with multiple candidates running for several council seats.
To run for office, candidates must be at least 18 years old, be Canadian citizens, and have lived in New Brunswick for at least six months. Councillor candidates must also live in the ward they are running in, while the mayor runs at large.
Municipal election day across New Brunswick is set for May 11.
The nomination period is often the clearest early indicator of how competitive local races will be – and whether voters in some areas will head to the polls at all.
More information on how to run and file nomination papers is available on the Tantramar municipal elections page.
