A former Foothills School Division trustee is considering making a run for a seat she was disqualified from in December. Former Ward 1 representative Jeannine Tucker is working with her lawyer to determine if she is eligible to serve on the board before deciding to run in an Oct. 22 byelection. “I am working with my legal team to find out if I can,” Tucker said. “My case was dismissed, no judge made a ruling. If you read the school act and you read the local authorities act, it could be interpreted that, yes, I could run and the reason I was disqualified no longer exists.” Tucker was disqualified in December for a conflict of interest due to operating a canteen at Oilfields High School in Black Diamond. She had just been elected to her second term in October to represent the Longview, Black Diamond and Turner Valley area. Tucker did not win her appeal in Calgary provincial court in June. She no longer operates the canteen. Division chairman Larry Albrecht said its legal interpretation is Tucker is not eligible to be a trustee. “We checked with our legal counsel and according to him a disqualified trustee isn’t able to run for two general election cycles,” Albrecht said. “That would preclude her from running in a byelection and according to the interpretation of our lawyer, for two more cycles of elections, another eight years.” Tucker was first elected in 2013, before being re-elected in 2017. Those interested in running can download the nomination papers and information at fsd38.ab.ca The nomination date is Sept. 24. Papers must be dropped off at the FSD office in High River between 10 a.m. and noon. The ballot boxes for the Oct. 22 election will be at Turner Valley, Longview and C.I. McLaren School.
