The ballot for next month's municipal election is beginning to take shape as candidates continue to file their nomination papers in advance of Friday's deadline.
As of Tuesday at noon, 14 candidates had either publicly declared or had filed their papers at municipal hall to seek one of six seats on Delta council, while nine individuals had either declared or filed in the race for seven Delta school board positions.
Five-term incumbent Lois Jackson is the lone declared candidate for mayor at this point.
Among the latest to enter the race for school board are incumbents Val Windsor and Nick Kanakos, both of whom are finishing up their first term as trustees, as well as Brad Sherwin, who is hoping to land a seat for the first time.
Windsor, a former teacher and former president of the Delta Teachers' Association, is vice-chair of the current board. She said it's important for trustees to have an understanding of their school district in order for them to be effective advocates for students.
Windsor said she is pleased that trustees are finally speaking with a united voice about the need for a fully funded public education system. However, she is still concerned with the downloading of extra costs to school districts by the provincial government.
"Two years ago, for example, the CUPE wage settlement, at a cost of approximately $900,000, was downloaded on the district along with increases in benefit and (B.C.) Hydro costs," she said. "These costs are now factored into the budget which means that tough decisions have been made in order to balance the budget which is a legal requirement."
Kanakos, whose wife Jeannie is seeking re-election to Delta council, said he has dedicated his life to working with parents to deliver quality education.
"My lifelong commitment has been to provide the best quality education for the students of Delta. I will continue to work with the parents, teachers and support staff to ensure a quality learning experience in Delta," he stated.
Kanakos will be running with a team called Independents Working for You, which includes his wife as well as incumbent councillor Bruce McDonald and school board chair Laura Dixon.
Sherwin, who ran in the 2011 election, has been actively working with parents, the board and the district to try to secure transportation for many students who lost their bussing program due to provincial cuts.
Sherwin is currently the director of marketing for the Credit Counseling Society and has been an active volunteer for community events and groups.
Meanwhile, Johann Ackermann this week announced he is running for council.
Ackermann has been employed at the Canada Revenue Agency for 24 years and has lived in Delta for the last 22 years.
He notes he has spent many hours as a leader and volunteer in the community and his time has been recognized and honoured with the Queen's 2012 Diamond Jubilee Medal. He feels that all the communities of Delta deserve to be properly represented and heard, adding a lot of issues affecting the communities are not being given the exposure and discussion they deserve.
He'll be running with four other independents in a group hoping to make it onto council for the first time.
Staring this year, council and school board terms will increase from three to four years, meaning the next election won't take place until 2018.
The deadline to file nomination papers for the Nov. 15 election is 4 p.m. Friday.
The candidates so far
The following the list of candidates, as of Tuesday noon, who will run in this Novembers’ civic election.
Mayor:
• Lois Jackson
Council:
• Sylvia Bishop
• Ron Calliou
• Jeannie Kanakos
• Heather King
• Peter Mattoo
• Bruce McDonald
• Robert Campbell
• Ian Paton
• Rod Binder
• Peter van der Velden*
• Nicholas Wong*
• Jennifer Thoss*
• Johann Ackermann*
• Lori Mayhew*
School Board:
• Laura Dixon
• Susan Fetterkind
• Nick Kanakos
• Carla Qualtrough
• Bruce Reid
• Scott Stoilen
• Laura Thomas
• Val Windsor
• Brad Sherwin*
* have declared but hadn’t filed their papers at municipal hall as of Tuesday at noon.
