Every four years, at election time, municipal governments either go through a shuffle or stay exactly the same, and it’s up to the voter to decide what happens.

On October 28, seats are up for grabs on Niverville’s and Ritchot’s municipal councils. Some mayors and council members are choosing to run again. Others are stepping away to make space for new faces and ideas.

Last year, the mayor of Ritchot, Chris Ewen, announced his intention to step down in the fall. He will have served as mayor for nine years.

Niverville’s mayor, Myron Dyck, says that he plans to run again. So far he has sat on council for 18 years and hopes to do so for at least one more term.

As for Niverville’s other councillors, Bill Fast has confirmed that he won’t run. Council members have until August to make a definitive decision.

With at least one guaranteed position opening up on each council, residents should be considering the opportunity. It’s also not too soon to tap the shoulders of fellow community members who might be a good fit for a role on council.

Municipal elections are regulated by the province and nominations officially open six weeks prior to election day and run for one week. Nominees need to collect 25 signatures from fellow local residents. Those who sign a nominee’s papers aren’t making a commitment to vote for them but rather indicating support for the candidate’s decision to run.

In order to be considered, all nominees need to register with the municipality’s designated Senior Election Official, typically someone who already holds a position in local government. This official can provide the details in terms of costs involved in running a campaign and rules regarding fundraising and donation acceptance.

There is much to consider before deciding to run as a candidate. Perhaps the biggest is the time commitment. Weekly council meetings can be time-consuming, especially when big decisions need to be made. Council members should have the flexibility to manage both daytime and evening meetings every month.

At least once per year, budget planning sessions can take days. As well, councillors are typically expected to sit on boards that are extraneous to their governmental role.

Not to be overlooked are the variety of events a council member is expected to attend throughout the year. These might include fundraising galas, grand openings, Chamber of Commerce AGMs, and the like.

While it’s okay to run for council with an immediate agenda in mind, Mayor Dyck says that it shouldn’t be a person’s primary motivator.

“We welcome people that have an interest in wanting to serve the community,” says Dyck. “When you’re in municipal government, it’s not about money and it’s definitely not about power. It is truly about giving back.”

Be prepared for respectful debates to occur around the council table, he says, and for the possibility that things may not always move in your favour.

It’s imperative, too, that council members demonstrate magnanimity and resilience in the face of public confrontation, because it will happen.

“You have to be prepared to understand why something is being said and how it’s being said without having your feelings hurt,” says Dyck. “Having said that, we are a team. And when one gets a little more bloodied and has some stripes on the back, we do rally around and support [one another]. Council is a safe place to express yourself.”

For some, remuneration may make the difference between running and not running. In both Ritchot and Niverville, council determines their own salaries and rates of increase.

Niverville’s mayor receives an annual salary of just under $30,000. Councillor salaries run just under $20,000 per year.

In Ritchot, the mayoral salary is closer to $50,000 annually while the councillors receive about $28,000.

Different levels of remuneration and per diems are available for travel and meeting attendance outside of the normal realm of activity.