Keith Ritz is the first person to file nomination papers for Cypress County byelection in Ward 9 Suffield.

By Chris Brown

Ward 9 Suffield

Keith Ritz running to fill vacant seat on Cypress County Council

Jan 5, 2022 | 4:51 PM

CYPRESS COUNTY, AB – With days to go before the nomination deadline for an upcoming byelection in Cypress County, only one person has filed their papers with the returning officer.

On Wednesday, Keith Ritz officially declared his intention to run for the vacant seat in Ward 9 Suffield.

He said there are a number of issues facing the county.

“I think roads are always an issue out here and we have a lot of agricultural issues, we have ranching issues, leaseholder issues,” he said. “Hopefully we can just contribute to helping resolve some of the issues that we face.”

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Ritz is currently president of Rainy Hills Grazing Co-op and serves on the United Conservative Party Constituency Board for both area ridings.

“This is just another one of those things where you’ve got to step up to the plate and shoulder some responsibility, he said. “I feel like I’ve always contributed to everything else I’ve contributed to, so I feel like I can here too.”

A byelection for the ward became necessary following the death of incumbent councillor Alf Belyea just before Election Day on Oct. 18.

Belyea died after the end of the nomination period and would have been acclaimed.

Ritz says he had a good relationship with Belyea and could take any concerns he had to the former councillor.

“When he died, well, somebody has to fill his shoes. I thought I’d rather my voice at the table than not have my voice at the table,” Ritz said.

Ritz said people can get in touch with him by calling 403-548-1502.

If there is an election needed, voting will take place Feb. 7 at the Suffield Community Hall with an advance poll on Feb. 5.

Sean Rooney, communications assistant Cypress County and returning officer for the Ward 9 byelection, says he has had calls from other people interested in running.

The deadline for people to file their papers is Jan. 10 at noon. Candidates need the signatures of five people in the ward, must put down a $100 deposit and need to fill out government forms which are available on the Cypress County website.

Rooney says it’s important that anyone running is intent on serving the county and serving the citizens in Ward 9 appropriately.

He says they’ll be expected to attend regular council meetings and are probably going to serve on some standing committees.

“So they can expect to do some extra reading but there’s a lot of people here and already on council who are very very happy to help any kind of transition that might have to occur,” Rooney says.