Year in Review: Civic Election

Written by Colin Powers on Friday, 28 December 2012

Swift Current's new city council was sworn in after the Civic Elections

2012 was a Civic Election year in Saskatchewan.

Swift Current Mayor Jerrod Schafer kicked off election season by announcing that he would run for a second term in June, but that campaign ended in September, when he won by acclamation after no one came forward to challenge him.

"I'll take it as a vote of confidence today that I think, for the most part, residents and businesses are happy with the direction that we're trying to take," Schafer said after he was acclaimed. "Tomorrow, we'll wake up and get back to work, and keep doing what we can to improve things here in Swift Current."

There was an election for City Council with a contest between the six incumbents and five new challengers. Election night on October 24th saw one of the newcomers, Pat Friesen, get onto council by earning the most votes out of all the candidates.

"I would have been very pleased to be among the top six and just be a part of council," Friesen said. "To receive the top number of votes is very humbling for me and I'm very grateful."

Ron Toles was another new face on council, with Dan Martens and Tim Bugera becoming the two defeated incumbents.

Other results had Sharon Dickie defeating Joel Sopp in the mayor's race in Shaunavon, and Bob Neufeld winning another term as Reeve for the RM of Swift Current over challenger Trent Regier.

More Year in Review stories:

Keystone XL Pipeline Rejected
Rick Hansen Relay
Central's Outdoor Classroom
City/RM Relations
Sentences in Major Court Cases
Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame Opens
Marketing Freedom for Farmers