12 Interested Parties: South Bruce Peninsula seeks to fill vacancy

It's enough to fill a jury.

In a bid to fill a vacated South Bruce Peninsula, Ontario council seat, twelve individuals have raised their hands and said, "I want to be your fellow councillor".

Rather than head to a by-election, South Bruce Peninsula council decided to ask for applications from the general public and the council would decide from the list of candidates who applied.

The application period, which concluded on Thursday January 3rd, has set the stage for a crucial special meeting scheduled for January 15. During this meeting, the council will deliberate and ultimately select a candidate to occupy the vacant position.

Applicants, having previously submitted letters of interest along with their applications, will have the opportunity to briefly express their intentions at this meeting.

Should the council fail to decide at the initial gathering, a follow-up special meeting is slated for the next day. This supplementary meeting will take place in the council chambers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., following a regular council meeting and concluding no later than 4 p.m.

All the candidates vying for the council seat include Daniel Evan Lisk, Paul Stephen Deacon, William Klingenberg, Glenn Darrell Holst, Christine Shirley Tomas, Mary E. Hanlon, Ann Marie Hadcock, James Edward Turner, John David Elmer, Donald Anthony (Tony) Clark Kesshig, Ana Vukovic, and Pamela Elizabeth Linklater.

Hadcock, Klingberg, and Vukovic ran in the 2022 Municipal Election.

The need to appoint a new council member is due to the resignation of first-term mayor Garry Michi in late August. Michi stepped down after making controversial remarks about the neighboring Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.

In the aftermath of Michi's resignation, the council appointed long-serving Deputy-mayor Jay Kirkland as the new mayor in September.