Prince George, B.C. – Nine people have officially put their names forward as candidates in the March 4th  village council by-election in McBride.

A by-election became necessary after three former councillors, Sharon Reichert, Ralph Bezanson and Edith Tracy, resigned their seats last November.  The resignations left only Mayor Loranne Martin and Councillor Rick Thompson on council and short of their required quorum.

On November 30th the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development advised that it had taken the steps necessary to permit Martin and Thompson to constitute quorum so that village business could be conducted.  It also put the wheels in motion for the holding of a by-election.

The official deadline for filing nomination papers was 4pm Friday, after which Karla Jensen, Chief Electoral Officer with the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, issued the declaration of candidates.

The nine McBride residents running for the three council seats are:

Bob Balcaen

Harold Edwards

Allan Frederick

Lucille Green

Rosemary Hruby

Mike Moseley

Irene Rejman

Joseph Rich

Diane Smith

The reason(s) behind the resignations of Reichert, Bezanson and Tracy have not been revealed by anyone in authority in McBride nor the former councillors.