City council hasn’t discussed whether to leave the seat soon to be vacated by Coun. Natalie Hebert empty or fill it in a byelection, according to Ken MacInnis, communications co-ordinator.
Hebert, who is pregnant, cited work as a reason for her March decision to leave City hall and the community.
She and her husband plan to relocate to Cranbrook.
Hebert was first elected as a counsellor in 2008. On council, she has been a member of the City’s Social Services and Environment portfolio and the Community Services committee.
Hebert says when she ran for council she had no agenda other than to bring a younger viewpoint to Williams Lake politics.
“That was my goal, to really encourage the younger age groups to come forward,” she said.
To that end, Hebert has been instrumental in council’s creation of a junior council, which gives local high school students the opportunity to experience and influence municipal politics.
Hebert expects to resign her seat either June or July 1 and says during her more than 24-month term she’s learned plenty, including gaining an understanding of the situations faced by low-income individuals and those who live in persistent poverty.
Hebert was happy to be a part of the council team, listening for community concerns and bringing viewpoints forward offering “that other voice.”
Between committee, committee of the whole, council meetings and time taken to prepare for those, as well as attendance at community events, Hebert estimates she dedicated between 20 to 25 hours a week to the business of setting policy for the City.
Her previous political experience was as a member of student council and a participant on the Youth Task Force under Ivan Bonnell’s mayoralship.
Hebert isn’t sure whether she’ll return to municipal politics in the future, although if she does she’ll wait until her children are much older.
For now, she’s just looking forward to having her Tuesday nights free.
According to the Local Government Act, in this situation council can choose not to hold a byelection for Hebert’s seat.
Municipal elections will be held this November.