FORT FRANCES—It looks like Fort Frances voters will have a variety of choices on the ballot for town council in the Nov. 13 municipal election.
A total of 11 candidates are vying for the six seats up for grabs, including incumbents John Albanese, Tannis Drysdale, Todd Hamilton, Neil Kabel, and Rick Wiedenhoeft.
Former councillor Sharon Tibbs, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2003, is among those vying for a seat on council, along with former councillors and mayoral candidates Allan Bedard and Nick Wihnan.
Rounding out the six challengers are Andrew Hallikas, Ken Perry, and G. Paul Ryan.
In the mayors’ race, meanwhile, incumbent Dan Onichuk is vying against Coun. Roy Avis.
This list still may change, however, as candidates had until 5 p.m. on Monday to withdraw their nomination form if they so choose, Clerk Glenn Treftlin noted.
In related news, the municipal candidates will get a chance to speak their minds in a forum slated for Tuesday, Oct. 17.
Organized by the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, this forum will see Mayor Onichuk and Coun. Avis asked questions by the media, given two or three minutes to answer them, and then one minute for rebuttal.
The council candidates will not participate in a debate, but will be given four minutes each to discuss themselves, their priorities, and their action plans.
Both mayoral candidates also will be given four minutes to do the same.
The forum is slated for 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre. The public is welcome to attend in person or can watch it at home via a live broadcast on Shaw (Channel 10).
Meanwhile, the Northwest Catholic District School Board will see an election here as four candidates are running for the three seats allotted for Fort Frances reps.
The candidates include incumbents Anne Marie Fitzgerald, Harold Huntley, and Gerry Rousseau and newcomer Paul Cousineau.
Over at the Rainy River District School Board, only two people put in their names to run—incumbent Dan Belluz and Donna Dittaro—and so they will be acclaimed to the two seats allotted for Fort Frances reps.
As well, local dentist Dr. Mary Ellen Kennedy is seeking re-election to the French-language separate school board (Le conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales).
And John Callan of Halkirk Township has filed to be the Rainy River Social Services Administration Board representative for the unorganized territory of Rainy River Central.
< *c>Voting process
Eligible voters once again are encouraged to check the list of electors at the Civic Centre, Memorial Sports Centre, and public library to see if they are on it, and that their information (such as name, qualifying and mailing addresses, school support, etc.) is correct.
If information is to be corrected, there are application forms available to complete and return to Treftlin or assistant returning officer Lori Pattison prior to Oct. 11.
This is so the town will know where to mail voter kits.
Eligible voters are expected to receive their mail-in ballot packages the week of Oct. 23.
After they do so, they can mail them in anytime prior to election day (Monday, Nov. 13)—although Treftlin recommended that voters don’t mail in ballots after Nov. 3 if they don’t have to.
For those who wish to vote in person, Treftlin noted staff will be on hand at the Civic Centre from Nov. 6-13 to take their ballots.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
