Change is on the horizon for Terrace City Council as two seats will be vacated for the Oct. 20 municipal elections.
Councillor Stacey Tyers, who has served on council for the past seven years, announced on Facebook that she will not be seeking re-election this fall. Tyers has a long history of working in the social service sector in Terrace, and worked for five years as the Terrace and District Community Services Society’s poverty law advocate. Following news last year of her cancer diagnosis, she said she will be taking this time to focus on her health.
“It’s been a challenging term and with my health stuff. I decided that my time would be better spent where it’s more effective,” she said. “I haven’t decided what my next steps are yet, but as soon as I know I’ll let people know.
“But for a little while anyway, I’m taking my life back.”
Councillor Michael Prevost will also step back from the race. In a Facebook post, he said his acceptance of a new job with Northern Health will require a significant amount of travel. He served on city council for the past four years, while working as a registered nurse with the health authority.
“This decision has not been an easy one. I want to thank everyone that has supported me to fulfill my duties as a city councillor. This role has challenged me in many ways and has taught me much,” Prevost wrote.
Current council members Lynne Christiansen, Brian Downie, Sean Bujtas and James Cordeiro all announced they will be seeking re-election in October. Mayor Carol Leclerc has also confirmed she will be running for a second term.
So far, two new candidates have announced their plans to fill the empty council seats.
Evan Ramsay, 31, is a local entrepreneur who announced his run in early July. He’s lived in Terrace for the past four years and said he wants his campaign to focus on safety issues, opportunities for economic development and making the city more attractive to medical professionals. By regularly attending city council meetings and speaking with local business owners, he said he has been going the extra mile when it comes to the position.
“My efforts to help the city [are] outside of the scope of requirements and responsibilities of a city councillor, but as a city councillor it helps me to achieve greater traction,” he said.
Jessica McCallum-Miller, 24, is a member of the Gitxsan Nation and lives in Thornhill. The young politician served for the last four years as the director for Area C for the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine and she also ran for city council in 2014. As a First Nations woman, McCallum-Miller said she can bring more diverse representation of the city’s interests to council, and push for creative environmental initiatives.
“I’ve always believed in sustainability for our citizens, our environment and protecting our wildlife,” she said. “I believe even the smallest change can get the ball rolling and create a brighter future, and I would like to further encompass that in the Terrace area.”
In the mayoral election, so far Leclerc’s only contender is Kitimat comedian Danny Nunes. Dressing in costume as the Kool-Aid Man, he said he’s throwing his hat into the ring to try and attract more young voters to the polls this fall.
READ MORE: Kool-Aid man to run for Terrace mayor
Nomination packages are available for pick-up at City Hall to be returned starting September 4, with the deadline to file by September 14. Those who are interested in running for city council, the regional district board or the school board are invited to a candidate information session at the regional district boardroom (4545 Lazelle Avenue) on September 4 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The 2018 election date is October 20.
The Terrace Standard will have more coverage of new and returning candidates in upcoming issues. Easily access all of our municipal election coverage at www.terracestandard.com/municipal-election.
brittany@terracestandard.com
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