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Hammertime: Ponoka is now on an election rush and roll

The busy few weeks ahead, discussed in this week’s Ponoka News Hammertime
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Mike Rainone

Hammertime

All of the candidates have now made that huge commitment to run for a position on both the Ponoka Town and County Councils and Wolf Creek and Catholic school boards and for the next three weeks or so there is sure to be a hectic, energetic, and very positive election campaign that will all be decided after election day on Monday, Oct. 16 and the time to introduce our community municipal leaders for the next four years. We should offer each and every one of these candidates our appreciation and best of luck for stepping forward and expressing their sincere willingness and interest to serve their community in these vital leadership positions.

It is extremely exciting to see that a total of 14 candidates have come forth to run for a four-year term on Ponoka Town Council, and it will be very interesting to listen to and read the campaign approach, views, issues, and goals of each and every one of these determined men and women at those always very lively community election forums, while out knocking doors, during around town chatter, as well as from their profiles and photos in the Ponoka News. I so fondly recall that in my first attempt at Municipal politics way back in the 1990s there were also 12 candidates running for a Councillor spot around the big table. It turned out to be a great learning experience, and I was so fortunate to be able to serve the community in my first of three terms on the Ponoka Town Council team, and worked with a whole lot of really great people and projects.

Whatever the case, the Ponoka Town Council election promises to be a keen and thrilling chase from start to finish, starting with what should be red hot mayoralty race taking place between two-term councillor and Mayor Rick Bonnett and long-time Ponoka businessman Larry Henkelman, who is vying to make a return to the local political arena after serving multi-terms as a town councillor and mayor in the past. The quest for the six seats on Ponoka Town Council should also be very interesting as incumbents Sandra Lyon, Carla Prediger, Teri Underhill, and Marc Yaworski will be challenged by newcomers Ted Dillon, Kevin Ferguson, Edwin Geuder, Curtis Jacobson, David McPherson, Clayton Nelson, Greg Nelson, and Adria Perepelitza. Throughout the years elections always have the unique tendency of coming up with a few ‘dramatics.’ with the perfect example being in our October 2013 Town Council showdown, where Rick Bonnet edged out Doug Gill in the Mayoralty race by the smallest of margins 960 to 959 votes after a recount.

In checking the County of Ponoka web-site this week I see that incumbent Councillors Bryce Liddle (Division 1), Mark Matejka (Division 2), Doug Weir (Division 3) and Paul McLauchlin (Division 4) were all acclaimed, with just Division 5 representative being contested on Election Day by Incumbent Nancy Hartford and challenger Jason Valstar. In browsing through some past election rhetoric last week I discovered that in the 2013 Municipal election for both the Town and County of Ponoka the turnout at the polls of the 5700 eligible voters in each area was about 40%. Hopefully with all the issues, requests, beefs, boquets, and questions that all taxpayers have the right to express in between elections, that the voter turnout out at this next election on Monday, Oct. 16 will be much higher as we choose our council representatives for the next vital four years of the future for ourselves, our children, and our communities.

Now let’s have a little fun

• How many politicians does it take to change a light bulb? Two…one to change it and another to change it back again.

• Quote from a Political critic. ‘I hate political jokes because unfortunately some of them get elected.’

• Frustrated husband asks ‘Honey…did you change the password on the computer?’ The answer: ‘Yes dear, it is the date of our wedding anniversary.’ which was followed by total silence.

• We know when we are getting older when our bank sends us a free calendar….one day at a time.

Never fear, Indian summer is now here, so just go ahead and have a great week, all of you.