Once again, governance for Salt Spring Island’s two largest improvement districts could see changes this spring, with candidates nominated and elections set for trustee positions coming open on both the Salt Spring Island Fire Protection District (SSIFPD) and North Salt Spring Waterworks District (NSSWD) boards.
Eager voters won’t have to wait until October to cast a ballot as with other local government elections, as both districts’ elections will take place sooner — with voting for the fire district concluding in April and the water district in May.
With nominations closed, five candidates will vie for three trustee seats on the fire district’s board, according to staff: incumbents Roland Cook, David Courtney and Mary Lynn Hetherington will be joined by new candidates Darryl Martin and Jennifer McClean seeking election to three-year terms.
The fire district will make mail-in ballots available upon request, but those must be received by April 11 to be counted. In-person voting will take place on an advance voting day on Wednesday, April 8 and on election day Saturday, April 11. The results will be announced at the SSIFPD AGM on Monday, April 13.
For the NSSWD board, three nominees will seek election to two seats for what will be three-year terms as well: Philippe Erdmer, Steve Lam (incumbent) and Jon Scott.
Voting packages will be mailed to NSSWD ratepayers on March 23, according to district staff, with mail-in packages due by Monday, May 4 and in-person voting taking place from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6 at Community Gospel Chapel. Results of that election will be announced later that same evening at the water district’s AGM.