Herb Pond is set to return as mayor of Prince Rupert after no other candidates filed nomination papers before the September 11, 2026 deadline. The acclamation is expected to be formalized after the withdrawal period ends on September 18, with general voting day on October 17.
Seven candidates are running for six seats on Prince Rupert City Council. Four incumbents — Teri Forster, Wade Niesh, Nick Adey, and Barry Cunningham — are seeking re-election. Newcomers Jessica Sallenback, James Warburton, and Andrea Pollock round out the council race. Incumbent councillors Reid Skelton-Morven and Gurvinder Randhawa chose not to run again.
Pond previously served as Prince Rupert’s mayor from 2002 to 2008, after first being elected to city council in 1996. He returned to politics in 2022, winning the mayoralty with 1,486 votes. Pond has promised to prioritize ‘smart growth’ during his next term, as the city works through a busy construction season with $55 million in infrastructure projects planned for 2026.
Eight candidates are also running for six School District 52 trustee positions. The district serves Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Metlakatla, and Hartley Bay. School trustee candidates will be declared alongside the city election results.
Residents can find the full list of candidates and polling information on the City of Prince Rupert website. The deadline to challenge a nomination is September 15, and candidates have until September 18 to withdraw their names from the ballot.
