Parksville residents can count on one thing heading into the municipal elections this fall — city council is going to look a whole lot different after the ballots are counted Nov. 15.
The seven-member council (one mayor and six councillors) could be facing a major makeover after recent announcements.
Coun. Marc Lefebvre and Coun. Bill Neufeld are running for mayor, which opens up their two seats on council. Mayor Chris Burger is stepping away from the political scene, which means council meetings will be chaired by someone different for the first time since 2010.
Only one current councillor has confirmed she will be running again in November. Coun. Sue Powell, the top vote-getter among council candidates in 2011, says she will seek re-election.
Councillors Al Greir, Peter Morrison and Carrie Powell-Davidson have told The NEWS they aren't yet ready to go public with decisions regarding their intentions.
The other change in the wind relates to length of term. Councillors and mayors elected this November in B.C. (along with school trustees and regional district directors) will serve for four years, instead of the three-year terms that have been the norm for the past couple of decades.
Those considering a run for office in Parksville can pick up a nomination package at city hall until Oct. 10. The completed packages must be returned to city hall between 9 a.m. Sept. 30 and 4 p.m. Oct. 10.
The city has also scheduled a candidate information session for Friday, Sept. 12 from 10:30 a.m. - noon at the city's conference centre attached to city hall.