[UPDATE] Who's first to file nomination papers in New West?

First-time school trustee candidate Kelly Slade Kerr was the first out of the gate to file nomination papers for the upcoming civic election.

The nomination period for candidates planning to run for mayor, councillor and school trustee opened on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 9 a.m. and closes on Friday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m.

In the last trip to the polls, New Westminster had four candidates for mayor, 17 for city councillor and 12 for school trustee.

If you happened to be perusing the nomination papers filed on Tuesday afternoon, you may have thought incumbent mayor Wayne Wright was first to file. Turns out that Slade Kerr was the first candidate to meet with chief election officer Isabell Hadford to file her nomination papers, but Wright’s papers were the first posted online.

Slade Kerr requested the city hold off on posting her papers until the afternoon as they weren’t publicized until her campaign website was active.

Encouraging voter turnout

The Record isn’t the only group in town hoping to spark better voter turnout for the civic election.

The paper recently launched the #WhyIvoteNW campaign on social media with the goal of getting folks interested in the civic election and encouraging them to vote on election day, Nov. 15. You can join the conversation by offering your comments at facebook.com/RoyalCityRecord or on Twitter @TheRecord.

A group called We Vote New West (WeVoteNW) has emerged with a goal of increasing participation in civic affairs.

A press release states the group is nonpartisan and doesn’t endorse or support any particular candidate or issue, but wants to promote the principles of democracy and a fair democratic election process.

“Our current goal is to help achieve voter turnout in upcoming elections on Nov. 15, 2014 to 31 per cent, up from 24.5 per cent in previous elections,” states a press release. “To achieve this goal, we are in process of encouraging the New Westminster community to organize a debate for all candidates seeking the office of mayor.”

The group hopes separate debates will be held for candidates vying for spots on city council and school board.

In its press release, We Vote New West states that it’s a non-political group that promotes democracy as opposed to politics, and has a letter from Elections B.C. confirming it isn’t considered an electoral organization under the B.C. Election Act.

“P.S. Sorry, no names can be given at this time to avoid a perceived conflict of interest in case any member(s) may decide to become candidates,” concluded the press release.

Meetings set

Royal City residents will have a chance to check out the candidates vying for city council at two upcoming meetings.

The New Westminster Chamber of Commerce is holding a civic mayoral forum on Tuesday, Oct. 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Inn at the Quay, 900 Quayside Dr. The Queensborough Residents’ Association will be holding an all-candidates meeting the next night – Wednesday, Oct. 29 – from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Poplar Island Room at the Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Ave.