Saskatchewan · City of Moose Jaw

How to run for Mayor in Moose Jaw

A plain-English guide to the 2028 cycle — eligibility, deadlines, paperwork, and key local contacts for mayor candidates in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

Election day: Wednesday, November 8, 2028
Population (2021)
33,665
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 Moose Jaw, you must be:

  • A Canadian citizen.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • A resident of Moose Jaw, OR a non-resident owner or tenant of land in Moose Jaw (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 Moose Jaw — 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 yearsAt-large. **James Murdock** elected Nov 13, 2024 (Moose Jaw's 42nd mayor), defeating incumbent Clive Tolley by ~4,000 votes.

Step 3

The nomination process

Filing happens at the local 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.
  • 25 voters (cities ≥ 20,000) or 5 voters (smaller cities and towns) from eligible electors of Moose Jaw.
  • Government-issued photo ID showing your name and qualifying address.
  • Filing fee: None at the provincial level. Some municipalities charge a nominal fee by bylaw.

Where to file

City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 228 Main Street North, Moose Jaw SK S6H 3J8.

Step 4

Key dates — 2028 cycle

DateEvent
Invalid DateNomination period opens
Invalid DateNomination period closes (last day to file)
November 8, 2028Election day
November 28, 2028New term of council begins

Step 5

Campaign finance

Saskatchewan has no province-wide campaign-finance regulation. Saskatoon (Bylaw 8491), Regina, and Moose Jaw have local disclosure / spending bylaws; most other cities have none.

Local

Specific to Moose Jaw

  • At-large councillors despite size: Moose Jaw is the largest SK city without wards. All 6 council seats are voted on by every elector — a significant logistical and signage difference from ward-based cities.
  • 2024 turnout 31.6 % (8,606 ballots cast).
  • Incumbent loss: Tolley's defeat after one term (2021-2024) shows incumbency is contestable here; Murdock's 4K-vote margin was decisive.
  • Bylaw enforcement teeth: unlike Regina's $10,000 max fine, Moose Jaw's bylaw caps at $5,000 — but successful candidates who fail to file *can* be removed from office.

Ballot

Other roles on the same ballot

Voters in Moose Jaw also choose:

  • City Councillor — At-large. 2024-2028: Patrick Boyle, Carla Delaurier, Heather Eby (incumbent), Jamey Logan (incumbent), Dawn Luhning (incumbent), Chris Warren.
  • Public School Trustee — Prairie South School Division — Subdivision-based.
  • Catholic Separate Trustee — Holy Trinity Catholic SD — Catholic supporters only.

Sources

Official resources

Related guides

Also running in Moose Jaw?

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

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

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