Happy City hoping to inspire candidates ahead of N.L. election season

CBC

13-06-2025

Newfoundland and Labrador is about four months out from what will likely become election season in the province — and a St. John's non-profit group thinks there will likely be some big changes at the local level.
"I don't think a lot of people want to go back to an all-white, all-male city council that doesn't include a lot of other perspectives in the community," said Drew Richardson, vice-chair of Happy City, and group that says they want to inform and facilitate public dialouge around civic issues in the city.
Richardson said they're expecting to see some a shakeup at some municipal council tables as people seek inclusivity.
The group is working to recruit a diverse set of candidates for the province's municipal elections, and is running what they're calling a campaign school for anyone interested in running for council, joining a campaign staff, or engaging in the electoral process.
It's happening in the MUN dining hall on Sat. June 14, and includes four panels at MUN's R. Gushue Hall between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. N.T.
Richardson thinks the fear of losing holds back some people from running, but he said it shouldn't.
"I don't think there's any shame in losing an election because just inherently running yourself brings your network into the arena of municipal politics, and that makes the arena stronger," he said.
The province's requirements for candidates is that they're eligible to vote in the area they're running, be a resident of the municipality for at least 30 days before the nomination period, not owe money to the municipality, work for the current council or for another level of government as a politician or a judge.
The municipal elections will happen across N.L. on Oct. 2, bringing voters to the polls in 276 incorporated municipalities less than two weeks before the Oct. 14 deadline for a provincial election.
The Liberals, PCs, and NDP are already getting candidates nominated and ready to hit the campaign trail, but Premier John Hogan has not said when he'll call an election.