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Trail mayor won’t seek re-election

City of Trail: Martin, Mike - Mayor Candidate seeks to replace Bogs

The Silver City will run under new leadership later this year after longtime Trail Mayor Dieter Bogs officially announced during the Monday council meeting that he will not seek re-election this fall.

The 17-year mayor alluded to retiring from municipal politics in a previous Trail Times interview, but with one person already throwing their hat in the mayoral ring, Bogs confirmed he is calling it a day after the Nov. 15 municipal election.

“After 27 years on council I think it is time for me to do something else,” said Bogs. “Let me tell you that I got into this because of one issue.”

Almost three decades ago, Trail council chose to focus on emergent matters and not longterm planning, according to Bogs, and this lack of foresight spurred the retired Teck engineer to run for council and, later, as Trail’s mayor.

“But once you get into serving on council or as mayor, after awhile it becomes a real passion,” he said. “And you become one of the first to find out almost anything that is happening in the community and that I will miss.”

The first mayoral candidate, Mike Martin, announced his intention to run in Trail’s civic election Tuesday morning.

Since retiring from his position as general manager of Teck Trail Operations in 2011, Martin has been a familiar face in the Greater Trail business community after taking an active role in regional initiatives focused on economic development as chair of the Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society.

Additionally, Martin chairs the Downtown Opportunities and Action Committee, and is one of the key driving forces behind ideas for regenerating downtown Trail.

“I have the time, energy and the experience in a leadership capacity to fulfill the position of the mayor’s office,” said Martin. “Trail is a great city and I am excited about the possibility of working with the community and elected council to establish a vision for the city of Trail through revitalization and other initiatives important to both Trail and the region.”

So far, Martin is a lone contender in the Trail mayoral race, however, Bogs did suggest that another person is considering running, although he was tight lipped on further details.

There is no cost to register as a candidate in a civic election, and those with intent to run for local government office in the fall election can start campaigning on Jan. 1, provided that all contributions and expenses are accounted for.

Nominations papers cannot be submitted to the city until Sept. 30, with Oct. 10 being the deadline to officially register as a candidate, explained Michelle McIsaac, Trail’s corporate administrator and chief elections officer.

Earlier this year, extending the civic election terms from a three-year to a four-year cycle was introduced to provincial legislation.

“The legislation has not yet received royal assent,” said McIsaac. “But if it does (pass), the change will take effect for this election and anyone elected will serve a four-year term.”



Sheri Regnier

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