An application to have last October’s Village of Acme Municipal Election results overturned in Court of Queen’s Bench has failed.
In her decision via tele-conference with the Drumheller courthouse April 29, Justice K.M. Horner declined to set aside the election, and dismissed the application in its entirety.
About 30 people appeared at Queen’s Bench to hear the decision.
Acme resident Leona DeKoter, representing the group of Acme voters that filed the application to nullify the election, voiced her disappointment and frustration at the Justice’s decision.
“That’s a slap in the face to every resident of the community - we thought the law would protect us. That’s not what I expected at all.”
“I am extremely disappointed. The majority of residents in the community felt we didn’t have an election that was truly the will of the people.”
DeKoter argued at the April 3 hearing the cumulative effects of all the irregularities could potentially have affected the outcome of the election. “About the only thing correct in the election was the hours the polling station were open,” said DeKoter.
Reasons the group of residents wanted to set aside the election include the validity of Ross Gilmore as a candidate, the improper printing of candidates names on the ballot alphabetically by first name instead of last, improper notice of advance polling, scrutineer placement on voting day, placements of election booths, and voter identification issues.
DeKoter said the group will be looking to appeal Justice Horner’s decision.
“There are a number of grounds for appeal.”
“This judgement shows the people who run it (election) can do whatever they want.”
One of the remedies DeKoter was seeking was an investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, “Because Mr. Alderdice (Acme’s Chief Administrative Officer and Returning Officer) admitted the staff of the election discussed the ballot order for several days,” she said.
Acme Mayor Bruce McLeod estimates the Village’s court costs in responding to the application at close to $25,000.
“The Village of Acme Council, the current one, did not want to do this,” said McLeod.
“They were asked to do a judicial review on this, and we’d said no.”
“We said we believed similar to what the judge has ruled here - that there wasn’t enough evidence to show that the elections were unfair or that people couldn’t vote for who they wanted to.”
“I look at it this way - the Village of Acme Council and staff have both been vindicated.”