Move on

Former town councillors Al Bedard and Nick Wihnan deserve kudos for standing on their principles.
Both failed to win a seat in last November’s municipal election yet neither one chose to run in the Jan. 14 byelection because they don’t believe it should be held in the first place—arguing the seat vacated by Coun. Tannis Drysdale back in September ought to have been filled by succession (i.e., approaching the failed candidates from the last election in order of their finish).
Mr. Wihnan said he didn’t run because he was appointed by succession years ago. Mr. Bedard, for his part, sat on a previous council that filled a vacancy by this method.
That was their decision, their choice, and bully for them.
Both went too far, however, in asking former councillor Todd Hamilton to withdraw from the byelection race—in effect questioning his honour and credibility because he had sat on the previous council that voted for runner-up John Albanese to replace the late Struchan Gilson.
First, the circumstances are completely different (in fact, Mr. Hamilton actually voted for Sharon Tibbs as his first choice, not Mr. Albanese). Second, while council traditionally has used succession to fill a vacancy, it certainly isn’t a town policy carved in stone. And third, it was the current council that opted—correctly—to call the byelection, not Mr. Hamilton.
Rather than belittling a candidate, both Mr. Hamilton and Ken Perry should be congratulated for having the courage and dedication to let their names stand for election to council. They should be thanked for their willingness to sacrifice their personal life for the betterment of our community.
It’s time to quit rehashing the decision to call a byelection. The focus now should be on the candidates’ ideas and visions for the future of Fort Frances so voters can choose the best person for this important responsibility.