Foothills School Division’s new trustee for the Black Diamond-Turner Valley-Longview area was sworn in on Monday. Madam Justice Nancy Dilts ruled on Dec. 13 in Calgary that Jack Molyneux can sit as the Ward 1 trustee despite finishing second to self-disclaimed Jeannine Tucker by a 60-43 margin in the Oct. 22 byelection. Tucker had disclaimed herself less than two weeks before the byelection. “It’s time to move on,” Molyneux said. “There’s lots of things going on in the division right now, like the new superintendent selection and I think it’s good to be involved in that. I am looking forward to it.” Tucker was elected as the Ward 1 trustee in 2013 and was re-elected in October of 2017. However, she was disqualified in December of 2017 due to a fiduciary interest, as she was the operator of the canteen at Oilfields High School, which is in Ward 1. Judge Willie DeWit dismissed Tucker’s appeal for the disqualification in July, which resulted in the Oct. 22 byelection. Alberta rules state a disqualified trustee cannot seek re-election for two complete terms. However, Tucker threw her hat in the ring for the Oct. 22 byelection before disclaiming herself prior to voting day. Justice Dilts’ ruling means Ward 1 will have its first elected official representing them since October of 2017. Division chairman Larry Albrecht said he is glad to see Molyneux sworn in and on the board. “We have a lot of things happening,” said Albrecht on Dec. 13. “We are going to be shortlisting our superintendents’ candidates on Monday (Dec. 17) afternoon. If we can get him sworn in, we would like to get him immersed quickly into the work of the board.” The chairman is pleased to have the 14 months without a Ward 1 trustee behind him. “It’s great news to have confirmed representation for Ward 1 to complete the board and to focus on the work in hand and move forward,” Albrecht said. “I look forward to working with him.” Molyneux complimented Tucker on her passion for education and representing Ward 1. “Jeannine did a very good job, she was passionate and demonstrated that many times,” he said. “If she would have been eligible, she would have gotten my vote.” The other five trustees on the school board have handled Tucker’s duties since her dismissal in December of 2017. Tucker did not wish to comment.
