CITY COUNCIL – Spina makes her resignation official; by-election is on

Kamloops voters will be going to the polls to elect at least one or two new City councillors and probably a mayor, likely in September.

A letter from Coun. Marg Spina was read at today’s (May 30, 2017)  City council meeting officially submitting her resignation effective June 30. She had indicated last week that was her intention, but some of her fellow councillors asked her to reconsider.

Spina, who has been battling cancer, had the option of staying on a leave of absence until Jan.1 next year, which would have avoided a by-election, but said at the last meeting she favoured forcing a by-election to fill her vacant seat. She wasn’t at today’s meeting.

It’s now expected that Mayor Peter Milobar, whose leave of absence starts on Thursday (June 1) will follow suit. He had stated he was willing to wait a few weeks before deciding whether to resign or to take a leave but with a by-election now being a certainty there’s no advantage to waiting longer.

It’s also expected that by the time the various steps in the by-election process are followed, the vote will in mid- or late September. Acting Mayor Arjun Singh indicated today the details will be discussed after Spina’s resignation takes effect.

Coun. Ken Christian, who was absent from today’s council meeting, has stated his intention to run for mayor. He, too, has favoured a by-election over waiting until the next general civic election. He will have to resign his council seat prior to the election, and his vacant seat will also have to be filled in the by-election.

If other councillors decide to run for mayor, that will add more names to the ballot. However, no one else on council has indicated a desire to try for the top job.