The Castlegar mayoral race shaped up in the course of a few hours this afternoon.
Incumbent Maria McFaddin announced on Facebook that she will not seek re-election. Councillors Brian Bogle and Sue Heaton-Sherstobitoff each then announced they will run for the job.
McFaddin said her decision came “after a lot of contemplation.”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the honour of serving you for the last eight years,” she said, referring to her previous term as a councillor in addition to the last four years as mayor.
She said “opportunities have presented themselves that make it challenging” for her to commit to another term, although she didn’t elaborate on what those opportunities are.
“Thank you to all of the amazing people I have had the privilege to work with,” she said. “From every community group, community member, organization, council members, RDCK director and all of staff, you have all taught me so much. I am a better leader and human from knowing and learning from all of you.”
McFaddin posted her announcement over the lunch hour. An hour later, Bogle announced his decision to run for mayor in a one-line statement on Facebook. McFaddin replied: “You have been a great deputy mayor! I am excited for the potential for the city.”
In a subsequent interview, Bogle said he has been thinking about running for mayor since before the last election, but he opted to run for councillor instead and supported McFaddin’s bid for mayor.
“I’m glad that I waited because I think I’m more prepared and ready to serve the community of Castlegar as mayor,” he said. “I want to give back to the community that’s been very good to me and I’ve really enjoyed my five years on council. I’ve enjoyed the interactions with the community and I think I’m ready. It was a pretty easy decision, really.”
Bogle said he wasn’t aware of McFaddin’s plans prior to her announcement and wouldn’t have run against her if she sought re-election.
A retired Safeway manager, Bogle was first elected to council in a 2021 by-election and was re-elected in 2022. In 2024, at McFaddin’s request, Bogle was named permanent deputy mayor for the remainder of the term. Previously the position was rotated among council. Heaton-Sherstobitoff spoke against the idea, which ultimately passed 5-2.
Bogle said holding the deputy mayor’s role has given him more experience and insight on the position, as has serving as an alterate to McFaddin as the city’s regional district representative.
Later this afternoon, Heaton-Sherstobitoff made her own announcement on Facebook that she will run for mayor.
“Our community deserves strong, steady leadership that puts people first,” she said. “I will provide the leadership that listens, brings people together, and takes action on the issues that matter most to our community. Above all, I promise to be accessible, approachable and transparent to both council and community.”
Heaton-Sherstobitoff, a retired BC Hydro employee, is Castlegar’s longest-serving current council member, with 15 years under her belt. She had mused about running for mayor in 2022 before deciding to seek another term as councillor.
Heaton-Sherstobitoff subsequently told Vista Radio her years have given her valuable perspective and allowed her to “build numerous relationships and really learn what works and what doesn’t work at city hall. I just felt it was the right time to step forward and provide that kind of steady collaborative leadership our community really needs and has been asking for it so we can move forward.”
She added that she decided to run for mayor months ago, and did not keep her ambition a secret, but was waiting for McFaddin to make her own decision about her political future before going public.
Neither Bogle nor Heaton-Sherstobitoff was surprised to learn the other is running for mayor, although neither they nor McFaddin had hinted at their plans during this week’s council meetings.
McFaddin was elected mayor in 2022 by five votes over former mayor Lawrence Chernoff.
Election day is Oct. 17.
