One of the greatest challenges facing municipalities this year will be getting people to run in the municipal elections in September.

That’s according to the CEO of MNL, Craig Pollett, who says municipalities are already preparing for running council elections at a time of great uncertainty.

In the last couple of elections, approximately 40 per cent of all town councils had enough people running to actually hold an election, says Pollett. In many cases, he says, just enough people ran to fill the seats by acclamation, while some municipalities were unable to fill all their council seats because not enough people ran.

Pollett says that’s something you just don’t see in other parts of the country. He blames aging demographics and the changing nature of public service.

Pollett says for those hoping to make a difference in their community, municipal politics is where it all happens, whether that be addressing environmental issues, economic development, or social justice.