Lonny Behm, one of the candidates running for town council, has taken himself out of the race.
Although Behm is unable to remove himself from the list of candidates on the ballot on election day, he is not pushing to be on council. “The time commitment is too great,” says Behm. His decision to drop from the campaign came not long after nomination day. “The big thing is I don’t want to be a lame duck.”
Co-workers and ex councillors still feel he should run and suggest he may be able to take a lighter load, Behm explained. However with two young kids and shift work as a psychiatric aide at the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury, the workload is too high.
“Giving up the time with my kids is a big thing,” he said.
Despite being on the ballot on election day, Behm is advising those who are voting to consider the other candidates. “I don’t believe I can fully commit and be a responsible town councillor with the time I have.”
Town of Ponoka CAO Brad Watson, who doubles as the returning officer for the elections, says 24 hours after nomination day a candidate’s name stays on the ballot. Even in the case of death, a person’s name stays on the ballot. However, if elected, a candidate’s options are to, “continue to serve, or under the Municipal Government Act, he can submit a resignation.”
A resignation becomes effective as soon as it is received by the CAO.
Behm feels he may run again but wants to have more free time and his children to be older before taking another stab at municipal politics.