Local Sask. election campaigns underway

From Climax to Oxbow and from Ituna to Nipawin as well as hundreds of other municipalities across Saskatchewan local election campaigns are officially underway as citizens get set to vote for new village, town and city councils.

Candidates had until the end of the business Wednesday to file nomination papers. Voting takes placeOct. 28.

In some communities, including Estevan and Melville, citizens will not have to choose a mayor because of acclamations.

Elsewhere, incumbent mayors seeking re-election do face challengers. Among the cities,Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Lloydminster, Humboldt, Melfort and Weyburn all have multiple nomineesfor mayor on the ballots.

There will be new faces in the mayor's chair in Swift Current, Moose Jaw, Yorkton and North Battleford where existingmayors are not running again. In each of those cities, more than one person is vying for the job.

In Regina, incumbent Pat Fiacco is being challenged for mayor by Linda A. M. White, listed on her nomination papers as "writer and social services recipient" and Jim Elliott, a longtime environmental activist who has served on various city communities.

In Saskatoon, there are five candidates:

• Incumbent Don Atchison
• Roger M. Chernoff, listed as an "ex-realtor and investor."
• Steve Lawrance, "unemployed singer."
• Johnny Melenchuk, "safety-shop foreman."
• Lenore Swystun, a "community developer" who ran for mayor in 2006.

Rat race in Swift Current?

In two cities, voters are being asked to support former provincial politiciansrunning for mayor. Arlene Jule is running in Humboldt and Glenn Hagel is a candidate in Moose Jaw.

In the town of Maple Creek, incumbent mayor and perennial winner by acclamation Anne Weisgerber put out a plea for someone to run against her. Council member Barry Rudd put his name forward, answering her wish.

The campaign for the mayor's chair in Swift Current might be dubbeda rat race. That city grappled with a worrisome infestation of rats this summer.

Mayor Sandy Larson, who took some heat over the issue, is not running again. Among the candidates, twoare associated with efforts to deal with the rat problem.

Saskatchewan's urban municipalities hold elections every three years. In addition to selecting mayors and council members, voters will also select school board members.

On voting day, polling stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.