A new School Board trustee will be elected in January, a vote forced by the resignation of Lisa Marie Barron and her promotion to Parliament. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

back to the polls

January by-election called for vacant Nanaimo-Ladysmith school board seat

Oct 28, 2021 | 11:08 AM

NANAIMO — For the seventh time in three years, Nanaimo voters will head to the polls.

The Board of Trustees for Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools officially began the by-election process during their Wednesday, Oct. 27 meeting, one required by former trustee Lisa Marie Barron’s promotion to federal politics.

The move sets a mandated 80 day countdown in motion, with voting day scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 15.

“With a possible pre-voting day ten days prior to that,” Mark Walsh, SD68’s secretary-treasurer, told the Board. “We’re intending to use our high schools, not sure if all of them or not and that would be the vast majority of the voting opportunities.”

Advertising for the vacant trustee position is set to begin immediately, with an official nomination process beginning early December.

rare sight

Clear Nanaimo skies offering prime 'planetary parade' viewing

15h ago

expanded space

Modular classrooms coming for space-strapped Nanaimo schools, timelines clarified

Jan 18, 2025

cell tower

Rogers pushes for improved Nanoose Bay cell service

Jan 17, 2025

The District will also hold at least one event for interested people to better educate about the roles and responsibilities of a school trustee.

An election is set to cost the School District roughly $100,000. Limiting the number of polling stations or advance voting opportunities are being looked at as ways to cut the bill.

Trustees also investigated the possibility of not hosting a by-election, in anticipation of the scheduled municipal election in October 2022.

It was not a viable option with B.C. electoral procedures clearly dictating a vote had to occur to replace Barron.

Walsh’s written report to the Board outlined any resignation before Jan. 1 of an election year would require a by-election be called.

“If Trustee Barron had gone on a leave until January 1 the election would not have been required as section 36(2) (of the School Act) provides an exception to the requirements to have an election,” Walsh’s report read.

Trustee Stephanie Higginson added the District entertained the idea of a special exemption.

“I think we understood that it was literally impossible and may have just ended up being for optics.”

Walsh will serve as Chief Electoral Officer with additional help hired to facilitate the January vote.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW