With the 2014 municipal elections exactly a year from today, the region's mayors have begun contemplating a bid at re-election.
Locally, there is one confirmed “yes” and five definite “maybes” to the question, “Will you run again?”
After a decade on Trail council and almost 17 years as mayor, Dieter Bogs is seriously considering calling it a day.
“I am considering retiring,” said the mayor from his city hall office Wednesday. “But it is early to say,” he continued. “I've worked hard all these years so the most important thing is that the city is left in good hands.”
Bogs has held the position steady since a 2001 by-election, twice by electoral votes and twice by acclamation.
Through the ups and downs of civic service, his focus to improve the Silver City image has not wavered.
“After the 2001 election, we wanted to change the image of Trail and I think we have,” explained Bogs. “We no longer see those rather nasty articles coming out in Vancouver or Toronto magazines about the kind of city Trail used to be,” he continued.
“That is what I am particularly proud of.”
When Nov. 15, 2014 rolls around, Greg Granstrom, will have served two full terms as Mayor of Rossland, and one year acting mayor. For now, the decision to seek re-election in the Golden City is not certain, but will lie in the hands of his family.
“When the time gets closer I will sit down with the family and have a discussion,” he said. “Without support from them this would be a really hard job to continue.”
The recent decision to increase mayoral electoral terms to four years (from the current three year term) at the province's annual meeting of the mayors in Vancouver, has Bert Crockett contemplating whether to throw his hat into the political ring for a fifth time.
“That is a lot of years and a heck of a commitment,” explained Crockett, who ran unopposed in the last election. “In rural communities this is more of a volunteer job,” he said, adding, “it's not like in the big cities where being mayor is a guarantee of a well paid job for four years. In our area, four years may have a person think twice about running.”
For a person working full or part-time, the mayoral position would be tough to balance, said Crockett.
“There are many meetings each month with various committees on top of regular council, so the bottom line is time commitment.”
Since the 2011 civic election, Beaver Valley communities have made great strides in terms of infrastructure improvements and community programs, which has both mayors considering a second term.
“My intention is to run again next year,” confirmed Fruitvale Mayor Patricia Cecchini. “I have learned so much and started a lot of projects that I would like to see through.”
Cecchini is serving her first term in the position, having won the 2011 election over one other candidate.
“The sustainability of our town is a great thing and something we are going to focus on in the future,” she added.
Joe Danchuk is completing his first term as Montrose mayor, and continues to appreciate the position he gained by electoral votes.
“It's early to say but I've really enjoyed being part of the advances the village has made such as our new water system with chlorination,” he said. “We are trying to move the village ahead and infrastructure upgrades will continue to be a priority for us in the next few years.”
Looking further east to Salmo, a year of village controversies has Ann Henderson, three-term mayor, uncertain if she will seek re-election.
“This has been a busy year,” said Henderson, who ran unopposed in 2011. “With everything that has happened, I am not sure if I will run again,” she continued. “But there is always a lot going on and I have more projects in the works.”