Voters in High River will go to the polls in a municipal by-election October 17.

Peter Loran resigned from council Monday and Mayor Craig Snodgrass says the decision to hold a by-election was no decision at all really.

"In my mind it was right from the get-go we were holding a vote," he says. "I think you're doing the community a disservice by running with an even number, you need seven people here to make proper decisions, it's not everyday that everything's unanimous."

He says there are still a lot of important issues that need to be dealt with in the town's recovery and a full compliment of councillors is needed.

The mayor says with these new four year terms we're going to see this sort of thing more often because people's lives change.

He's hoping the right type of candidate steps up.

"I'm hoping that somebody puts their hand up that wants to step into this arena, get somebody else that has that community mind set and no self interests, those that are thinking that, stay at home," Snodgrass says.

Nomination Day is set for September 19 with October 17 as Election Day and the new councillor will be sworn in October 24, at council's annual Organizational meeting.

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