Many candidates enter local government races in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

Nominations for the Oct. 17 local government elections in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows closed at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11. Both communities have contested races for mayor, council and school board positions.

In Maple Ridge, Chamber of Commerce president and local businessperson Jerry Kok will challenge incumbent Mayor Dan Ruimy. Seventeen candidates are seeking six council seats: Kristina Brown, Leah Campbell, Korleen Carreras, Bob D'Eith, Judy Dueck, Ken Holland, Derek Jeffery, Bhupinder Johar, Lou Jose, Leanne Koehn, Andrew Laity, Chelsa Meadus, Inya Mitrovic, Mike Morden, Steven Muise, Cindy-Lea Stephenson and Ryan Svendsen.

Sixteen candidates are running for five Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School Board positions representing Maple Ridge: Kourosh Ahmadian, Aidan Allenbuckle, Mark Bailey, Deepa Bissessur, Paul Davidson, Emily Haugen, Jacquie Montgomery, Mike Murray, Karen Redkwich, Chris Sandve, Pascale Shaw, Jeff Stromgren, Brad Tones, Nicole Trudeau, Crystal Warner and Elaine Yamamoto.

In Pitt Meadows, incumbent Mayor Nicole MacDonald faces former city councillor Janis Elkerton. Eleven candidates are running for six council seats: Michael Babor, Don Bell, Owen Coomer, Tracy Elke, Alison Evans, Mike Hayes, Ariane Jaschke, Mike Manion, Bob Meachen, Julia Perrie and Reet Singh.

Five candidates are seeking two school board trustee positions representing Pitt Meadows: Trudi Appleton, Owen MacGregor, James Rowley, Terra Slade and Don WIlson.

Eligible voters may cast early ballots in Maple Ridge on Oct. 7, 10, 14 and 15, and in Pitt Meadows from Oct. 6 to 9. General Voting Day is Saturday, Oct. 17, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mail-ballot applications will be available beginning Sept. 17, with mail ballots available from Oct. 7. Completed mail ballots must reach the Chief Election Officer by 8 p.m. on Oct. 17; late ballots will not be accepted. Information on voting locations, eligibility and other election matters is available at MapleRidge.ca/GoVote and pittmeadows.ca/election.