There will be a change in leadership at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM).

SARM confirmed that Ray Orb will step down as President Thursday, and William “Bill” Huber, who is Vice-President, will take over as Acting President.

Orb, who has been with SARM since being elected to the Board in 2004, said the decision to not finish his term “comes after 20 years of dedicated service, good timing, and a desire to start experiencing life in a different way.”

“After 20 years of proudly serving SARM, the timing just feels right,” says Orb in a news release Tuesday. “Since announcing back in March that I wouldn’t be seeking re-election, the transition has gone so smoothly that there wasn’t any real reason to delay stepping down. SARM is in incredibly capable hands with Bill Huber as Acting President, and I’m looking forward to more family time, so it just makes sense.”

“My passions in life are people, rural Saskatchewan, and farming,” says Huber, “so I couldn’t be more honoured to step into this acting position. Having held the role of Vice President for the last four years, I know first-hand what a great leader Ray Orb is and how significant his contributions have been. It’s my privilege to continue that work.”

The official search for a new President won’t start until January 2025. SARM says all nominees for the role “must be elected officials in a rural municipality.” It will conclude with an election during the SARM Annual Convention in March.

Author’s note: SARM later clarified that Ray Orb’s last day as president was Thursday, August 15, not August 31 as initially reported in its news release. The article has been updated to reflect the change.