With one of two candidates no longer eligible to run as trustee for the French public school board, voters may end up voting in a by-election.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent issued a statement on Thursday to say that Genevieve Smith will not be eligible to run for the position with Conseil scolaire Viamonde.
When contacted by BlackburnNews.com, Smith said she terminated her candidacy after accepting a teaching job at a French public school that is governed by Conseil scolaire Viamonde. Being employed as a teacher makes her ineligible to run as a trustee.
As a result, voters will not be choosing a candidate to fill that position during the municipal election on October 22.
A new nomination process for the trustee position has now been opened and will run until October 15 at 2 p.m. Nominations may be filed with the city clerk during regular business hours. If more than one candidate is nominated, a by-election will be held on November 29.
If the remaining candidate, Pierre Lambert, remains the only person nominated, he will be acclaimed to the position.
There a currently 289 eligible voters in Chatham-Kent who can cast a ballot for the French public school board. Those voters will still be required to vote on October 22 if they wish to cast a ballot for other municipal positions such as mayor and council
The municipality said more information about the possible by-election will be released following the October 15 nomination deadline.
