MEDICINE HAT, AB — The next municipal election is right around the corner.
The deadline for people to declare their candidacy is September 18th.
As of June 19th, nine people have thrown their name in the hat in the race for municipal council in Medicine Hat.
All nine are men.
“It seems there’s a little more interest in public school board than there is in municipal council,” said councillor Julie Friesen. “I suspect lots of women have had more contact with the school system because of their children and so on. So, that part, I suppose would make sense.”
In April, the Alberta government announced a campaign aimed at getting more women to run for council and school boards in the October election.
Both Calgary and Edmonton have seen more woman announce they’ll be running this year than in the previous election in 2013.
But that’s not the case in Medicine Hat.
Friesen, currently only one of two female councillors, has not announced if she’ll run for council again. But she understands how important the balance is and how strong the female voice can be.
“I would really, personally, encourage women of any age or experience or interest level to think really seriously about it,” Friesen said. “It’s a big responsibility but it has a tremendous number of rewards as well.”
For more information on who is running, click here.
