New MLA resigns as mayor

Ward Stamer has officially tendered his resignation as the mayor of Barriere, but it will be months before his replacement is elected.

The longtime politician made the announcement this week after winning his bid to be the next MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson in the Oct. 19 provincial election on the weekend.

While Stamer would be allowed to hold both titles, he committed from the time he announced his candidacy that he would resign his post as the district’s mayor if he was successful in the fall election.

In a statement issued earlier this week Stamer said the resignation came “with mixed emotions” and a “heavy heart.”

“I am excited to embark on this new journey in representing not only the residents of this community that I am so thankful to call home, but to everyone living, working and visiting in the beautiful North Thompson,” Stamer’s statement read.

“I will continue to work hard in supporting and representing Barriere’s best interests as your MLA and I wish each of my colleagues and friends, both on council and staff, all the best as you continue to serve our community.”

District of Barriere chief administrative officer Daniel Drexler told Castanet Kamloops a date for a byelection has not yet been set, but staff plan to present council with a report on timelines for one at its regular meeting coming up Nov. 18.

Drexler said a chief electoral officer will need to be selected by council and, at that time, an election would be held within 80 days.

“Anywhere from three to six months from now,” Drexler said is the timeline for a mayoral byelection in Barriere.

He said legislation dictates that an elections officer be appointed within a reasonable amioun t of time.

“There’s no specific timeline, however, I would consider three months to be reasonable for council to determine that,” Drexler said, adding he’s. Not sure if the election would be run with in-house staff or not.

Stamer had been on a leave of absence to run in the provincial election approaching since Sept. 3, during which time Coun. Rob Kerslake has served as acting mayor.

Before entering municipal politics Stamer was a logging contractor for nearly 40 years. He was elected to Barriere town council following incorporation in 2007, sold his business in 2015 and then successfully ran for mayor in 2018. He was acclaimed as mayor for another term in 2022.

As Barriere's mayor, he also had a seat on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board.