Tiffany Schaefer Wins Lumsden By-Election After Strong Community Turnout

The people of Lumsden have made their choice, and Tiffany Schaefer has officially been elected to Town Council following a by-election that generated strong community interest and a notable voter turnout.

According to the final results, 251 ballots were cast in the election. Tiffany Schaefer received 138 votes, followed by Byron Tumbach with 70 votes, and Natalie Haslund with 43 votes.

What makes the turnout especially noteworthy is that the previous municipal election, which included all six council seats along with the mayoral race, reportedly drew somewhere in the range of approximately 320 to 350 total ballots cast. At the time, that election was considered one of the largest voter turnouts the community had seen in many years.

For a single-seat by-election to attract 251 voters suggests there was significant public interest surrounding this race and the candidates involved.

In the weeks leading up to the election, The River Valley Podcast placed a strong focus on local election coverage, including candidate interviews, and encouraging community awareness and engagement around the vote itself. While many factors contribute to voter participation, the turnout numbers appear to reflect a high level of local attention surrounding the election.

Beyond the numbers themselves, what made this by-election especially interesting was the very different styles and approaches each candidate brought to the race. In many ways, the election became less about party-style politics and more about how residents connect with leadership styles, personality, experience, and approachability in a small-town setting.

Byron Tumbach entered the race with a more traditional political approach, bringing forward specific concerns, detailed ideas, and a stronger focus on issues he believed needed attention within the community. His campaign emphasized transparency, accountability, and identifying areas where he felt improvements could be made. It was a structured and issue-driven approach that reflected preparation and a clear political direction.

Natalie Haslund approached the campaign from a community and business perspective, emphasizing her experience working with people, marketing, networking, and helping businesses. Her message focused heavily on preserving Lumsden’s small-town charm while drawing upon her involvement and relationships throughout the community.

Tiffany Schaefer, meanwhile, presented something noticeably different during her interview with The River Valley Podcast. Schaefer openly acknowledged that she was not entering the race with a detailed political agenda or extensive experience in municipal politics. Rather than presenting a list of major initiatives or campaign promises, her approach was more informal and grounded, expressing a willingness to step forward, become involved, learn the role, and contribute where she could.

That difference may have played a significant role in how voters responded.

Political observers have long noted that voters do not always make decisions based solely on platforms, experience, or policy proposals. Particularly in small-town municipal politics, qualities such as relatability, trust, personality, familiarity, humility, and authenticity often carry significant weight.

For some voters, a candidate with a detailed agenda signals leadership and preparation. For others, it can sometimes feel overly political or too rigid. On the opposite end, candidates who appear approachable, honest about learning, and free from heavy political positioning can come across as more relatable to everyday residents.

The results of this election appear to suggest that many voters in Lumsden connected with Schaefer’s straightforward and community-oriented approach.

It is also important to note that this analysis is not intended to suggest weaknesses or failures on the part of the other candidates. All three candidates brought forward different strengths, perspectives, and visions for the community. Rather, the election offered an interesting example of how different campaign styles and personalities resonate differently with voters.

With 138 votes and a clear victory at the polls, Tiffany Schaefer will now take her seat at the council table as Lumsden’s newest council member, where residents will have the opportunity to see how her approachable and community-first style translates into leadership moving forward.