Two of the seven Salt Spring Island Fire Protection District (SSIFPD) trustees are at the end of their three-year terms this year, and officials are beginning plans for an election — if necessary.
Reached for comment, neither trustee John Wakefield nor trustee Robin Williams, each elected in 2022, had finalized a decision on whether to stand again for election.
In the event there are more than two candidates and voting is required, the fire district’s strategic planning and policy development committee has recommended the board plan two accessible voting locations this year, to increase participation — one in the south end, and another in the Central area. SSIFPD policy also allows residents owning land within the district to request a mail-in ballot.
At its meeting Monday, Jan. 20, the SSIFPD board appointed Anthony Kennedy as returning officer for the 2025 election.
“We’ve contacted him to make sure his time is available,” said CAO Rodney Dieleman. “And he’s very familiar with the process, having run the elections for many years.”
District staff will be advertising for trustee nominations starting Feb. 1, Dieleman said.
According to records kept by the Driftwood and the district, more trustee seats in the last 20 years have been filled by acclamation than by election.