Barriere election months away after Stamer resigns from office to head to Victoria – Kamloops News

Photo: Michael Potestio

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA and now former Mayor of Barriere Ward Stamer.

Ward Stamer has officially resigned as mayor of Barrière, but it will be months before his replacement is elected.

The veteran politician made the announcement this week after winning his bid to be the next MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson in the Oct. 19 provincial election weekend.

While Stamer would be allowed to hold both titles, he committed from the moment he announced his candidacy that would resign from his position as mayor of the district if he was successful in the autumn elections.

In a statement issued earlier this week, Stamer said the resignation came “with mixed emotions” and a “heavy heart.”

“I am excited to embark on this new journey to represent not only the residents of this community I am so grateful to call home, but everyone who lives, works and visits beautiful North Thompson,” Stamer’s statement read. .

“I will continue to work hard to support and represent the best interests of Barriere as your MLA and I wish each of my colleagues and friends, both on council and staff, all the best as they continue to serve our community.”

Barriere District Chief Administrative Officer Daniel Drexler told Castanet Kamloops that a date for a byelection has not yet been set, but staff plans to present a report to council on the timelines for one at its upcoming regular meeting on November 18.

Drexler said the council will need to select an elections director and at that time, an election would be held within 80 days.

“Three to six months from now,” Drexler said, is the timeline for a mayoral byelection in Barriere.

He said legislation dictates that an election official be appointed within a reasonable period of time.

“There is no specific timeline, however, I would consider three months to be reasonable for the council to determine,” Drexler said, adding that yes. I am not sure if the elections will be conducted with in-house staff or not.

Stamer had been on leave to run in the upcoming provincial election since Sept. 3, during which time Coun. Rob Kerslake has served as interim mayor.

Before entering municipal politics, Stamer was a logging contractor for nearly 40 years. He was elected councilor for Barriere upon incorporation in 2007, sold his business in 2015 and then successfully ran for mayor in 2018. He was hailed as mayor for another term in 2022.

As mayor of Barriere, he also held a seat on the board of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.