Three apply to fill vacant seat on Iqaluit city council
Council will vote on who to appoint at the end of the month
A new city councillor is scheduled to be appointed June 28. (Photo by David Venn)
Three people are in the running to fill a vacancy on Iqaluit’s city council.
A seat on opened up in April when former councillor Sheila Flaherty resigned, saying she wants to focus more on her business and other ventures.
The city advertised the vacancy and Lili Weeman, Keith Baines and Kimberly Smith all met its May 27 deadline to apply, according to city spokesperson Geoff Byrne.
Both Weeman and Smith had put their names forward in the call-out for applicants last winter that filled vacancies left by Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster and John Fawcett.
For the latest appointment, Iqaluit city councillors will follow the same process they did in March when they selected Ookalik Curley and Paul Quassa to fill the two seats, Byrne said.
Each applicant will answer two questions, and councillors will vote via a ranked ballot system. The vote is scheduled to be held June 28.
What ever happened to elections?
The seats are filled via election every term. When someone resigns, the seat is filled via appointment by council until the end of term.
Whatever happened to byelections?
There were 27 people that ran for City Council at the last City election. 8 were successful leaving 19 unsuccessful. Of those, one was brought forward a few years ago but he’s since left. What’s wrong with the other 18 people that originally ran for council? I know the City can choose either by appointment or taking the next person that had the most votes. I wonder why they chose direct appointment. Last time they were seeking new members I heard they wanted Inuit women on council but I don’t think any of those three meet those requirements. Citizens have the right to know.
All eligible residents of Iqaluit were able to submit an application at city hall before the deadline, including those 18 people. Nothing was stopping anyone of them from doing so if they were still interested.
They ran against current council, thats the problem. They need friends in there.