In 1895, Edmiston was nominated for and subsequently elected to Edmonton Town Council, finishing first in the aldermanic race in a field of nine candidates, with 175 votes. He was re-elected in 1896, finishing second of eight candidates. During this term, Edmiston sat as the chair of the board of works. He also sat on the council's finance, public works and market committees. He did not seek re-election in the next election. In early 1897, he was a member of a planning committee for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations within the town. In the ensuing December 1897 election, having been nominated for mayor by Colin Strang and George Roy, he was the only candidate put forth for the position, and thus was acclaimed to the position. In 1898, in response to getting nominated for re-election as mayor, Edmiston responded by purchasing an advertisement in the "Edmonton Bulletin", stating: