No mayor candidates in small Saskatchewan town of Canada

Rural Kyle’s election day nears, but no residents have stepped up for the mayor’s role

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A town in Saskatchewan, Canada is heading into its upcoming municipal elections without a single candidate willing to take on the role of mayor.

The rural community of around 400 residents has been without a candidate since George Williams, the current mayor, announced his retirement following a three-year term. Despite outreach efforts,

Kyle’s council has struggled to find a successor, leading to concerns over the town’s governance.

“It’s a little concerning, but I am confident someone will step forward,” Kyle’s Chief Administrative Officer, Amber Dashney, told local radio station CKOM-AM.

With a declining population and limited local engagement, two attempts to secure a nomination for mayor have so far gone unanswered.

The Kyle council has stated that should the mayoral and council seats remain unfilled, temporary appointments will be made, followed by another election if necessary.

“We will continue calling a by-election until we fill the mayor spot and the other councillor spot as well,” Amber Dashney said.

Known for its historic Woolly Mammoth discovery, Kyle is located about 45 miles from Swift Current, Saskatchewan’s sixth-largest city.

The town is famed for its vintage drive-in movie theatre, annual beach volleyball tournaments, and soon-to-open dog park, aiming to maintain its reputation as “a safe place to raise a family” as described in town literature.