signs for the upcomming muncipal election in Medicine Hat (Derek Brade CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Election signs aplenty in Medicine Hat, interest growing in nearby communities

Aug 20, 2021 | 4:39 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Take a drive along any popular street in Medicine Hat, and it is likely that you will see a number of election signs. Interest in the upcoming municipal election has been growing. Right now there are 22 candidates for council and four for mayor.

Signs in neighbouring Redcliff have also started to pop up recently. Right now, there are three candidates vying for a seat on council and four for mayor. One of them is incumbent mayor Dwight Kilpatrick.

“I don’t know if I have ever seen a large list to choose from so I think it is normal we are smaller, quieter,” Kilpatrick said.

Over in Cypress County, there are only two candidates vying for nine ward positions. But returning officer Tracy Popick said it is too early to tell what the race will be like come election day.

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“So I’ve had a few phone calls with some interest, a lot of the incumbents have actually shown some interest however until papers are filed we don’t know for sure,” she said.

Popick said the county has run into situations where not all council seats were filled. If that were to occur again, Popick said the county would have to advertise more until the vacant seats fill, and report them to the province.

Interest in the election is also growing in Brooks. Right now there is one person running for mayor and two for council.

“We are starting to see some pickup of people submitting their nomination packages, and I would say within the week you are starting to see some of the election signage,” deputy CAO Amanda Peterson said.

For the first time the nomination period opened in January, and some candidates were quick to file.

Some municipal leaders on the outskirts of the city have some theories about why interest in Medicine Hat has been so high.

“I think one of the reasons is, is that Medicine Hat is a bigger municipality, than the smaller ones, and so again I think because it is a big municipality there are more constituents that need to be reached.” Brooks deputy CAO Amanda Peterson said.

Returning officer Amanda Popick believes the extended nomination period may have contributed to the onset of interest as well as the onset of political conversation, the past year on social media.

“With the pandemic, there has been a lot of political talk in the city, and not so much in the county,” she said.

All of the municipalities believe enough candidates will step up to the plate in time for the October election.

Those who have done it before, like Redcliff Mayor Dwight Kilpatrick said it can be a rewarding experience.

“We are building our future. Whatever we do here today is our future tomorrow,” Kilpatrick said.

The deadline for candidates to submit paperwork is Sept. 20.