Candidate Information

Candidates for the 2026 General Local Election

Name:	Running for Office of:
JOHN BUIKEMA	Mayor
ROBERT JUDZENTIS	Mayor
THOMAS CAMUS	Councillor
CALVIN ELLIOTT	Councillor
MURRAY HAWSE	Councillor
LAURA LEONARD	Councillor
SCOTT MARKO	Councillor
GENEVIEVE PATERSON	Councillor
SAM RAVEN	Councillor
FRANK WRAY	Councillor

Name:	Running for Office of:
PHIL BRIENESSE	School District No. 54 Trustee, Zone 2 (Smithers/ Glentanna/Driftwood)
FRANK FARRELL	School District No. 54 Trustee, Zone 2 (Smithers/ Glentanna/Driftwood)
KRISTINA GRAHAM,	School District No. 54 Trustee, Zone 2 (Smithers/ Glentanna/Driftwood)
DIANE MACKAY	School District No. 54 Trustee, Zone 2 (Smithers/ Glentanna/Driftwood)
CASDA THOMAS	School District No. 54 Trustee, Zone 2 (Smithers/ Glentanna/Driftwood)

Running for Office

Key Dates

Date	Activity
August 4 to September 11	Nomination packages available
September 1	Nomination period begins at 9:00 a.m.
September 11	Nomination period closes at 4:00 p.m.
September 15	Deadline to challenge nominations and Elector Organization Endorsements closes at 4:00 p.m.
September 18	Deadline for: Decision on challenge of candidate nomination Withdrawal of a candidate Withdrawal of candidates endorsed by elector organization
September 19 to October 17	Campaign period
October 17	General Voting Day
October 24	Election campaign signs must be removed

Eligibility

You are eligible to run for office in the Smithers General Local Election if you:
- Are 18 years of age or older on General Voting Day.
- Are a Canadian citizen.
- Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months before filing your nomination papers (if submitting nomination papers on September 11, you must have lived in BC since March 10, 2026).
- Are not disqualified from being nominated, elected, or holding office under the Local Government Act, Community Charter, Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, or any other law.
You do not need to live in Smithers or own property in the Town to run for local office.
You are not eligible to run if you:
- Are currently in custody after being convicted and sentenced for an indictable offence.
- Have been found guilty of an Election Offence (such as intimidation or vote-buying) and are prohibited from holding office.
- Are a judge of the Provincial Court, Supreme Court, or Court of Appeal.
- Are involuntarily confined to a psychiatric facility or institution.
- Have been disqualified from office for reasons such as:
  Failing to file a Candidate Disclosure Statement in a previous Election
  Failing to make the Oath of Office
  Failing to attend local government meetings as required
- Are an employee or paid volunteer of the local government (or related local government, such as the regional district), unless you have taken a leave of absence to run and agree to resign if elected.
- Are a federal government employee, unless you have received permission from the Public Service Commission of Canada to run for office.

Nomination Process

Individuals wishing to run for local office must submit their nomination documents during the official Nomination Period. Nomination packages will be available for download or in-person pick up from the Town Hall (1027 Aldous Street) beginning August 4, 2026. Late submissions (after 4:00 p.m., September 11) will not be accepted. The Nomination Package includes three Sections:

Nomination documents may be delivered by hand, mail, courier, fax, or email. All submissions must include a refundable $100.00 nomination deposit, payable by cash or cheque to the Town of Smithers.
To ensure timely review and to support prospective candidates, all in-person nomination submissions must be made by appointment with the Chief Election Officer. This process helps maintain fairness, allows adequate time to review documents for completeness, and ensures each candidate receives the information they need.
To book an appointment during the Nomination Period, please contact the Chief Election Officer at 250-847-1600.
Walk-in submissions cannot be reviewed for completeness and may not be accepted if deemed incomplete. Candidates must book an appointment to ensure their nomination documents are properly reviewed and submitted within the legislated timelines.

Campaign Financing and Third-Party Sponsors

The pre-campaign period begins July 20, 2026 and the campaign period runs from September 19 to October 17, 2026.

Election advertising includes public communications that promote or oppose a candidate or elector organization during these periods. During the campaign period, advertising that takes a position on an issue associated with a candidate or elector organization may also be considered election advertising.

Most election advertising must include an authorization statement identifying the financial agent, such as:

"Authorized by Jane Smith, Financial Agent, 250-123-4567"

For online advertising, such as paid social media ads, the authorization statement may appear on a webpage that is directly linked from the advertisement.

For information about campaign financing, election advertising, and candidate expense limits, visit the Elections BC website at www.elections.bc.ca or contact

Elections BC:

Email: electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca
Toll-free: 1-800-661-8683

Campaign financing rules for Local Elections are set by Provincial Legislation and administered by Elections BC. These rules include:
- who can contribute to a campaign
- spending limits for candidates and third-party sponsors
- rules for election advertising
- public financial disclosure requirements
All candidates, elector organizations, and third-party sponsors must follow these requirements. For complete information, please visit the Elections BC website.

Candidate Resources and Forms

Candidate Resources

Legislation and Bylaws

Council Pre-Election Workshop Resources

Websites

Content is provided for information only and belongs to the organization identified in brackets.

Description	Website
Information about General Local Elections	About General Local Elections in BC [Province of BC] 2026 General Local Election [Elections BC]
Information for Candidates	Thinking of Running for Local Office [Province of BC] Running for Local Office [Province of BC] Information for Candidates [Elections BC] Information Sessions for Candidates [Elections BC]
Information for Elector Organizations and Endorsements	Elector Organizations and Endorsements [Province of BC] Information for Elector Organizations [Elections BC] Information Sessions for Elector Organizations [Elections BC]
Information about Campaign Financing and Third-Party Sponsors	Financial Reporting and Political Contributions System [Elections BC] Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in B.C. for Candidates and their Financial Agents [Elections BC] Quick Reference Sheets related to Campaign Financing [Elections BC] Third Party Sponsors and Advertising [Province of BC] Information Sessions for Third-Party Sponsors [Elections BC]
Information for Voters	Voting in Local Elections [Province of BC]

Campaign School and Training Resources for Election Candidates

The Town provides access to these websites for informational purposes only. The Town does not create, review, endorse, or verify the content and does not guarantee its accuracy, completeness, or reliability.

Questions?

Contact the Election Office:
Phone: 250-847-1600
Email: election@smithers.ca
Town of Smithers
1027 Aldous Street
Smithers BC V0J 2N0

Alerts

Willowvale Walking Bridge Closure