Education

SD57 by-election goes Saturday

Jan 14, 2022 | 2:13 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Tomorrow is General Voting Day in School District 57 with seven candidates putting their names forward – five for a trustee spot in Prince George – and two for a spot in Mackenzie.

The Prince George candidates are Audrey McKinnon, Brian Trotter, Andrew Burton, Shannon Freeman and Milton Mahoney. The candidates in Mackenzie are Rachael Weber and David Szucsko. You can learn more about the candidates by clicking here.

The by-election was prompted by the high profile resignations of former board chair Trent Derrick and trustee Shuirose Valimohamed. The pair resigned following the release of the special advisors report which among other things, found that there was systemic racism in the school district.

Those looking to cast a ballot can do so between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the following locations:

District of Mackenzie office, 1 Mackenzie Blvd, Mackenzie, B.C. V0J 2C0

Glenview Elementary School, 7310 Cluff Road, Prince George, B.C. V2K 2M3

Heritage Elementary School, 257 Anderson Street, Prince George, B.C. V2M 6C1

Malaspina Elementary School, 7900 Malaspina Blvd Prince George, B.C. V2N 4A9

Pineview Elementary School, 8515 Old Cariboo Hwy, Prince George, B.C. V2N 5V2

Van Bien Training Centre, 311 Wilson Crescent, Prince George, B.C. V2L 4P8

Resident electors will be required to produce two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity. Picture identification is not necessary. The documentation must prove both residency and identity.

Non-resident property electors will be required to produce two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity, proof that they are entitled to register in relation to the property, and, if there is more than one owner of the property, written consent from the majority of the property owners.

A local political scientist notes that voter turnout in by-elections is typically low.

“Yeah. Especially with only nine months to go until the regular elections in October. You normally have a lower turnout for by-elections anyways and with it being so close to the general election, you wouldn’t expect there to be a very large turnout unless local issues of late, like resignations, and reports that have come out about the school district, galvanize voters,” says CNC Political Science Instructor Chris Beach.

“One thing also to think about is just the time of the year. Often in the winter if the weather isn’t great, icy roads for example, that’s going to be a deterrent as well.”