RMWB byelection nominations are finished, and the campaign candidates expect the race to be very interesting but also quite amicable as far as political races are concerned. There are 7 candidates who are taking part in the byelection campaign. The candidates hoping to fill the empty council spot include Chris Flett, Monte Vickerson, Colleen Tatum, Veronica Doleman, Michael Durocher, Verna Murphy, and Mohammad Dogar, The campaign candidates were all asked what they expected in the coming weeks, with the exception of Mohammad Dogar who could not be reached for comment. Chris Flett responded “I think there’s a lot of great people running in this campaign, so I think it’s going to be a positive campaign. I don’t really see any dirty politics or anything, I think everyone that has thrown their name in that I know has done it for the right reasons.”

Colleen Tatum, another of the campaign candidates for the RMWB byelection, stated “For me, it’s going to be a lot of hard work. Doing what I do, the business that I have is connecting with people. So I really enjoy door-knocking and going out into the community and meeting people and talking to them and hearing what’s important to them for Wood Buffalo.” When asked the same question Monte Vickerson responded ‘(It’ll be) difficult to put the signs in the snow. I think it’s going to be quite friendly, I think most of the people that I’ve seen involved in it are going to be amicable and I think it’s going to be a matter of bringing out the people, the voters. Identifying yourself as a Fort McMurry(ite) is the fact that you’re here and you’re earning a living from here. You don’t have to be here for five, 10, 15, 20 years to vote. You only have to be here for one year and have your say. Once you have that part of the community working and taking a stake in this community, we’re all better off.”