The Rocky View Schools (RVS) Board of Trustees has approved one motion which will require trustee candidates to pay a $100 deposit when they submit their nomination papers, and another which requires candidates to obtain 20 nominating signatures from eligible electors instead of the 10 previously required.
The motions were given Third Reading during the Dec. 12 board meeting after receiving First and Second Readings on Nov. 28.
It's the first time RVS will require a $100 deposit to accompany a trustee candidate’s nomination package.
During the Dec. 12 meeting, as on Nov. 28, Trustee Melyssa Bowen was the most adamantly opposed to the new election requirement, feeling that they represented an unnecessary barrier to those wanting to run for school board in 2025.
Bowen received support from Trustee Todd Brand in opposing the $100 deposit, and both voted against the motion. But were ultimately outvoted by other trustees who adopted it.
Bowen, however, particularly opposed the change to the amount of electors' signatures needed, as she felt this unfairly favoured incumbents who already have strong ties in their school communities by nature of their role.
However other trustees just did not see it that way, with Trustee Judi Hunter pointing out that any candidate as a minimum should be able to get 20 signatures in their home community if they are credibly running for elected office.
Bowen was the sole vote against, and the 20 signature requirement was ultimately adopted.
Amendments proposed by Bill 20 affecting the local authority elections act (LAEA) meant trustees had to make the decision whether to change deposit and signature requirements for next year's nominees before Dec. 31, 2024.
The election day for municipal government and school board trustees is Oct. 20, 2025.
-With files from Masha Scheele/ Rocky View Weekly
