What happens next in District 15 now that Steve Craig is becoming an MLA?
Posted Jun 19, 2019 02:16:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There will soon be an open seat around the council table at Halifax City Hall.
Lower Sackville councillor Steve Craig took the Sackville-Cobequid riding in a provincial byelection Tuesday.
“I, within 30 days have to submit a letter of resignation. I'm actually composing that right now, that will go in today,” he tells NEWS 95.7's The Rick Howe Show. “I'm going to request it be effective at the end of next week.”
He says that will give him enough time to let his constituents know what's happening, clean out his desk and look over files to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Once the clerk receives that letter, according to the Halifax Charter, a report will be brought before council recommending the acceptance of Craig's resignation.
The Municipal Elections Act states council has four weeks from when the clerk signs the resignation letter to set a date for a special election to fill the District 15 vacancy. That election must be held no later than 11 weeks from the date of the council meeting the resignation is accepted.
Municipal elections in Nova Scotia take place on Saturdays and the next council meeting is scheduled for July 16, so as things stand now, September 28 is the latest a special election could be held.
However, HRM spokesperson Brendan Elliott tells HalifaxToday.ca it could be earlier as “it's in regional council's prerogative to call a special meeting of regional council before July 16 if it so chooses.”
Elliott adds, once Craig's resignation becomes official, those living in District 15 with concerns they would usually contact a councillor about, can call 311 until a new representative is elected.
