New beginnings for Wheatland County Council

By Sharon McLeay Times Contributor

Wheatland County voters were in the mood for some fall housecleaning during the Oct. 16 election.
It was almost a clean sweep of former councillors, with five seats replaced and two retained.
Approximately one quarter of the county election pool voted, with 2,153 people filing their vote.
The Carseland area had the most contested division in the county, with five candidates who voters had to consider and compare. Donna Biggar, the winner for Division 2, said she was pleased with the campaign.
“I figured it was going to be a close race. I really want to thank the other candidates and they did a good job of campaigning. The campaign journey was amazing. It is not very often you get to go and meet new people in the community, and just knock on their door and ask all about them. Whether I won or lost I was very happy with the campaign,” said Biggar.
The new council is sure to bring some new ideas to a formerly long-standing council lineup.
Re-elected by a majority vote in his riding, Glenn Koester said he was surprised at the turnover, but is looking forward to getting to know the new councillors.
“I am looking forward to some new and fresh ideas, and I am sure we will all get along and work together. No one will have an agenda and it will be a fresh start for the county,” said Koester.
Alice Booth saw her opponent Jason Wilson replace her in Division 1. Rex Harwood stepped back and Amber Link stepped up in Division 2. In Division 3, Don Vander Velde lost his seat to Donna Biggar. Division 4 will see Tom Ikert sitting in former Councillor Berniece Bland’s place. In Division 5, Scott Klassen took the riding from Brenda Knight. The only two councillors to retain their seats were Glenn Koester in Division 6 and acclaimed candidate Ben Armstrong in Division 7.
Koester said councillors will be sworn in Oct. 19 at 1 p.m., in Wheatland County chambers. The councillors will receive handbooks and meet near the end of October for orientation and organizational meetings. At that time, they will choose which organizations and committees they will sit on. The first official Wheatland County council meeting is Nov. 7.