TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: January 27, 2025 Report No. ADM-25-003
TO: Council
FROM: Deb Hopkins, Director of Corporate Services/Corporate Officer
SUBJECT: 2025 By-Election - Appointment of Chief Election Officer and Deputy Chief Election Officers
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That for the 2025 By-Election, Council:
1. Appoint Deb Hopkins, Corporate Officer, as the Chief Election Officer; and
Sarah Holloway, Deputy Corporate Officer, and Victoria McKean, Committee Coordinator, as Deputy Chief Election Officers; and
2. Approve funding of up to $86,500 in the 2025 budget.
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
As a result of the resignation of Darlene Rotchford in October 2024, a by-election is required to fill the vacant seat on Council. To conduct a by-election, Council is required to appoint a Chief Election Officer and Deputy Chief Election Officer in accordance with the Local Government Act.
BACKGROUND:
In October 2024, Darlene Rotchford was elected to the provincial legislature and subsequently resigned as Councillor resulting in a single seat vacancy in the Township of Esquimalt's municipal Council.
A by-election is required under the Local Government Act to fill the vacant office of Councillor. Legislation requires that Council appoint a Chief Election Officer to trigger the by-election. Once this appointment is made, the Township has 80 days to conduct the by-election, and more specifically, General Voting Day must be held on a Saturday within that 80 day timeline. General Voting Day is scheduled to be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Staff have completed a number of required administrative tasks to ensure that the April 5, 2025 General Voting date is achievable with the appointment of the Chief and Deputy Chief Elections Officers as recommended.
Chronology:
* October 19, 2024 Provincial Election
* October 25, 2024 Darlene Rotchford tendered formal resignation
* November 2024 prepared by-election timelines
* November 2024...
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