Newfoundland and Labrador · Municipality of Bonavista

How to run for Mayor in Bonavista

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

Election day: Tuesday, September 25, 2029
Population (2021)
3,190
Head of council
1 Mayor
Term
4 years
Wards
None

Step 1

Are you eligible?

On the day you file your nomination paper for mayor in Bonavista, you must be:

  • A Canadian citizen.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • A resident of Bonavista, OR a non-resident owner or tenant of land in Bonavista (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 mayor do?

The Mayor is the head of council in Bonavista — chairs council meetings, is the public face of the city, and votes alongside councillors on by-laws, the annual budget, and major staffing decisions.

RoleSeatsTermNotes
Mayor14 yrsAt-large, directly elected.
Deputy Mayor14 yrsAt-large, directly elected (separate ballot).

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 Bonavista.
  • Government-issued photo ID showing your name and qualifying address.
  • Filing fee: $50 (cities) or $10 (towns).

Where to file

Town Hall, 8 Confederation Drive, Bonavista. Contact the Town Clerk at 709-468-7747 or via `townofbonavista.com`.

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 Bonavista

  • Bonavista's economy mixes heritage-tourism (Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, Ryan Premises National Historic Site, Matthew replica), fisheries, and a growing food-and-beverage scene.
  • Recent affordable-housing initiatives have been a council priority.
  • Sign by-law: standard NL framework.

Ballot

Other roles on the same ballot

Voters in Bonavista also choose:

  • Councillor — At-large.

Sources

Official resources

Related guides

Also running in Bonavista?

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