Municipal elections will play out slightly differently in Saint Andrews this year.
Kate Akagi, who had been the town’s acting mayor, died last weekend.
Akagi had been nominated and was running for a council seat in Ward 3 in the May 11 election.
But as a result of Akagi’s death, voters in Saint Andrews will not cast ballots in that ward.
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A spokesperson for Elections New Brunswick said chief electoral officer Kim Poffenroth cancelled the election for Saint Andrews’ Ward 3.
Paul Harpelle said that authority comes from the province’s Municipal Elections Act.
Harpelle said ballots have already been printed and will have the names of all candidates who filed nomination papers.
“A notice will be placed up at any voting place in that community that will inform voters because they’re still going to vote for the mayor,” he said. “So notice will be put up just indicating that particular election in Ward 3 is now cancelled.”
So what’s next?
“A byelection is going to be scheduled to take place on Monday, June 22 to fill the four positions in that one ward,” Harpelle said.
Any candidates who choose to run, including the other four currently on the ballot, will have to complete the full nomination process.
Harpelle said the four other candidates in Ward 3 have been sent notices from the chief electoral officer about what’s happened.
Additionally, Harpelle said any byelections required because of a lack of candidates in other municipalities will also be held June 22.
