Newfoundland and Labrador · Municipality of Gander

How to run for Council in Gander

A plain-English guide to the 2029 cycle — eligibility, deadlines, paperwork, and key local contacts for councillor candidates in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Election day: Tuesday, September 25, 2029
Population (2021)
11,880
Council seats
6 seats
Term
4 years
Wards
None

Step 1

Are you eligible?

On the day you file your nomination paper for councillor in Gander, you must be:

  • A Canadian citizen.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • A resident of Gander, OR a non-resident owner or tenant of land in Gander (or the spouse of one).
  • Not legally disqualified from running.
Common disqualifications include sitting judges, sitting MPs / Senators / MPPs (must resign before filing), municipal employees (must take an unpaid leave or resign), and people serving a sentence in a penal institution.

Step 2

What does the councillor do?

Councillors in Gander vote on by-laws, the annual budget, and local services like parks, transit, and zoning. They are the most direct point of contact between residents and city hall.

RoleSeatsTermNotes
Councillor64 yrsAt-large.

Step 3

The nomination process

Filing happens at the town Returning Officer, in person during regular office hours and on nomination day until 2:00 PM. You'll need to bring:

  • Nomination paper, signed in the presence of the clerk or a commissioner of oaths.
  • 2 nominators (a proposer and a seconder) from eligible electors of Gander.
  • Government-issued photo ID showing your name and qualifying address.
  • Filing fee: $50 (cities) or $10 (towns).

Where to file

Town Hall, 100 Elizabeth Drive, Gander. Contact the Town Clerk at 709-651-5900 or `[email protected]` to book a nomination appointment.

Step 4

Key dates — 2029 cycle

DateEvent
September 25, 2029Election day
October 15, 2029New term of council begins

Step 5

Campaign finance

NL has minimal province-wide campaign-finance regulation: only contributions over $100 must be disclosed, and defeated candidates do not file. St. John’s has its own stricter Election Finance By-Law.

Local

Specific to Gander

  • Gander's role as an aviation hub (Gander International Airport, NAV CANADA, the global air-traffic-control centre) gives municipal politics here an outsized economic dimension — airport governance, transit links, and military leases recur in council debates.
  • The town's profile rose sharply after *Come From Away* (Broadway musical based on Gander's hospitality during 9/11); tourism policy is a recurring municipal theme.
  • Sign by-law: standard NL framework — confirm with town clerk before posting.

Ballot

Other roles on the same ballot

Voters in Gander also choose:

  • Mayor — At-large, directly elected.
  • Deputy Mayor — Selected by Council from among councillors. **Not on the ballot.**

Sources

Official resources

Related guides

Also running in Gander?

Considering a different office? We have plain-English guides for every position on the Gander ballot:

This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Always confirm details with the town Returning Officer and the most recent provincial candidate guide before filing. Last reviewed 2026-05-01.

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