A Sarnia-Point Edward trustee seat on the St. Clair Catholic District School Board has been declared vacant.
Michelle Parks, an eight year veteran of the board, led the polls in the October 27 municipal election but failed to submit her campaign financial statement by last Friday's 2pm deadline.
City Clerk Nancy Wright-Laking says if a candidate is in default and was elected, their position is declared vacant and they are not able to run in the next election. She says if the candidate wasn't successful in being elected, the penalty is that they can not run in the next election.
Wright-Laking says five notices about the approaching deadline were provided.
Parks says she's been taken off guard by the developments and is pursuing all available avenues to retain her seat.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Michelle-Parks-one.mp3"][/audio]
Parks captured 36.7 per cent of the vote in the fall 2014 election and was followed by Linda Ward who was re-elected to the other Sarnia-Point Edward seat.
Robert Clark, placed third but also failed to submit his financial statement.
Stephane Thiffeault finished fourth.
If Parks does not get her seat back, options to fill the vacancy include appointing the next qualified runner up, seeking nominations from the public at large or holding another election.
Meantime, Wright-Laking says unsuccessful city council candidates Salena Clarkson, David Ghobril and Jimmy Netskos also did not submit financial statements.
She says all of the individuals have been sent notices of their default.
Filing the information is a requirement under the Ontario Municipal Elections Act for candidates who run in the municipal or school board races.
