Who will run Lingwick? Small Quebec township can't find mayoral candidates

No one wants to run Lingwick.

While dozens of mayors inQuebec's Eastern Townships region have been elected by acclamation ahead of next month's municipal elections, thesmall townshiphas a unique problem: it has zerocandidates for mayor.

Lingwick, located about 60 kilometres east of Sherbrooke,is home to about 400 residents andcurrent Mayor Marcel Langloishad hoped to retire from municipal politics this year.

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Nowhe will have to stay on until at least Nov. 26, when a new vote will be held to find his successor.

Prospective candidates for the top job will be able to throw their names into the running as of Oct. 13, said Lingwick's director general and elections president.

"I have hope that we'll have a candidate before having to look beyond November 26," said Jose Bolduc.

'More and more difficult to become mayor'

Six councillorswere elected by acclamation in Lingwickafter they ran unopposed inthe municipal elections, which are scheduled forNov. 5 across Quebec.

But none of them are interested in the top positionthey say it's too much work for too little pay.

"It's a post that demands so much. Plus, in small municipalities, the salary is far from a living wage," said newly appointed councillor Daniel Audet.

In 2014, the Lingwick mayor took home an annual salary of $4,070and could spend up to $2,035 for work-related expenses, according to township records. The city councillors earned $1,357 for the year, and could spend up to $678 in expenses.

Caroline Poirier, a Lingwickmunicipal councillor for eight years who vacated her post this year, agreed.

"It's becoming more and more difficult to become mayor, even in a small municipality," she said. "It demands a great deal of competencies, knowledge and commitment."

Mauricie town also struggling

Lingwick isn't alone, though.

Residents of Saint-Stanislas, Que.,in the Mauricie region, won't be able to vote for a new mayor on Nov. 5 either.

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No mayoralcandidates put their names forward in the town of about 1,000 people.

Saint-Stanislas' elections president and director general, Marie-Claude Jean, said she hasn't seen a situation like this in 20 years.