With both provincial and municipal elections in 2020 in our area, it proved to be a big year for new political faces on the scene, as well as several farewells and goodbyes.
A number of long time familiar faces departed the scene, opening the door for some new faces to take their seats. Here is a look at the goodbyes and hellos, and even a few welcomes back of some political names in our area.
Goodbyes:
Herb Cox, MLA for the Battlefords, wrapped up his tenure after nine years in the Legislature.
Larry Doke, MLA for Cut Knife-Turtleford, was elected the same time as Cox and also rode into the sunset at the same time after nine years.
Don Buglas, member of North Battleford city council, retired from council after 17 years in office.
Kevin Steinborn also called it quits as member of North Battleford council, after serving one term.
Susan McLean Tady decided to retire from Battleford town council in 2020 after serving three consecutive terms.
Gordon Yarde, whose time on council in Battleford spanned almost three decades, bid farewell in less-voluntary fashion. He was defeated in the municipal election.
Ryan Bater, after serving one term on North Battleford council and then one term as mayor, was defeated in 2020 in his bid for a second term as mayor.
Several members of the Living Sky School Board bid a fond farewell in 2020: Garth Link, Glenn Wouters, Ron Kowalchuk, Tracie Heintz and Todd Miller.
Hellos:
Jeremy Cockrill, elected new MLA for the Battlefords in October.
Ryan Domotor, elected new MLA for Cut Knife-Turtleford in October.
David Gillan, elected Mayor of North Battleford.
Thomas ‘Bill’ Ironstand, elected to North Battleford council.
Ross MacAngus, elected to North Battleford council.
Alexis Christensen, elected to Battleford council.
New to Living Sky School Division board: Mary Linnell (Sub. 2), Nicole Kobelsky (Sub. 3), Bernadette Heintz (Sub. 6), Rocky Omelchenko and Shaun Weber (North Battleford).
Welcome back!
Ames Leslie, acclaimed to a second term as mayor of Battleford.
David George, back on Battleford council following the 2020 election after sitting out the last term.
Larry Doke. His ‘retirement’ from politics was very short-lived, as he moved to the municipal scene as mayor of Metinota.
Gerry Ritz. The former Battlefords-Lloydminster MP is back in the game, this time as Reeve in the RM of Mervin.
Still here:
Rosemarie Falk, MP for Battlefords-Lloydminster, picked up a new role in Parliament in 2020 as Seniors critic for the Conservatives.
Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan and MLA for Rosthern-Shellbrook, is back after winning the 2020 provincial election.
Randy Weekes, returned as MLA for Biggar-Sask Valley, was recently elected the new Speaker of the Legislature. He has served in the Legislature for 21 years.
