Duane Hicks
Two new voices will be added to those of the incumbents on town council following Monday’s municipal election.
June Caul and Wendy Brunetta were elected handily, garnering higher vote totals than any other council candidate with 1,895 and 1,726, respectively.
They join Paul Ryan (1,382), John Albanese (1,223), Ken Perry (1,108), and Doug Kitowski (1,039).
“I am really humbled by confidence people have shown in me and June,” said Brunetta.
“I think they spoke loud and clear that they’re looking for some change—although there wasn’t a huge change on council—I am hoping that June and I are going to represent our community well,” she added.
Brunetta conceded there’s “definitely going to be a learning curve” as a new councillor, but she’s prepared for it.
“I wouldn’t have put my name forward if I wasn’t committed to it,” she stressed.
“I am really looking forward to learning a lot more about municipal politics and just how things work.”
Brunetta congratulated all of the elected councillors and Mayor Roy Avis, as well as all those who put their name forward to run.
“I think it says a lot about our community,” she said about the latter.
Caul, meanwhile, said she was bowled over by the support from the electorate.
“It’s really humbling and gratifying to think that so many people in town have that much confidence in me,” she remarked.
“I sure hope I can do them proud.”
Caul said she’s ready to go through orientation as a new councillor in the next month prior to being sworn in Dec. 1.
But, in fact, her learning experience began during the campaign, when groups such as local firefighters, police, ambulance services, the health unit, and Chamber of Commerce gave her and the other candidates questionnaires to fill out regarding various topics relevant to those agencies.
“When you’re new to something like this, you’re pretty blind,” Caul admitted.
“I did a lot of research on some of the questions that were asked so that I could understand what they were talking about to start with, so I could give a proper perspective from my point of view.
“It really started to get me more and more interested right from the get-go when I started doing that,” she added.
“Just reading up on some things and learning a little bit, I thought, ‘I’m doing the right thing here.’ I was looking forward to learning more.
“So I’m really excited about it.”
“I’m happy with the results,” said Perry, who first was elected to council in a by-election in 2008.
“I’m glad that the four of us that were there got back in again,” he added. “I think we need to carry on where we’ve been heading in the last little while.
“I’m extremely pleased that Roy’s back on board because we need him,” Perry stressed.
“He is our leader—he’s doing a real good job and I think he’s going to continue to do a good job.
“And I’m also glad we’ve got two women on board. It’s a good deal,” Perry said.
Perry added the incumbents will help Caul and Brunetta get up to speed as much as they can.
“It’s a learning curve but whatever they need from us, we’ll help them do it,” he pledged.
Ryan, who was re-elected for a third term on council, said he was “quite humbled” the electorate chose him to carry on with the work he’s been doing with the rest of council.
“I’m grateful they sent me back in to take another kick at it,” he remarked.
Ryan also said it’s good that much of the current council will be returning, “especially at these times.”
“We’re quite engaged with a lot of things right now, especially the mill,” he noted.
As a side note, Ryan said he thinks the town “owes a great debt” to Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft, who opted not to run in this election after 11 years on council.
“He did a great job,” Ryan lauded. “He didn’t run again but I worked with him the last eight years and he was totally engaged.
“He did a heck of a good job, and I think the townspeople owe him a great debt of gratitude to him,” added Ryan.
“He did a great job.”
John Albanese also said he was “very happy” to return for another term.
“I’m glad the people of Fort Frances showed great support. I thank them,” he remarked.
“I’m looking forward to fulfilling my commitment, like I said,” Albanese added.
“I want to make sure that the things that we started, we finish.”
He also is looking forward to working with Brunetta and Caul, as well as the rest of council, over the next four years, and congratulated all of the candidates for putting their names forward.
Albanese has been a councillor since September, 2005, when he was appointed following the death of Coun. Struchan Gilson.
Prior to that, he also served on council from 1985-91.
Kitowski, who was appointed to council just last year following the passing of Coun. Sharon Tibbs, admitted he didn’t go out and knock on too many doors, but the public supported him nonetheless.
“My feeling was that if people know me, they’ll vote for me. If they don’t know me, so be it,” he reasoned.
“I try to do my best when it’s my turn to speak and that’s all there is to it.”
Kitowski added he’s “absolutely” ready to go for the next four years.
“We have so much stuff that we’re partially done working on, that we’re trying to complete,” he noted.
“I feel real good that we have some people on council from before, and a couple of new ladies on there.
“I’m really looking forward to working with them,” Kitowski said. “I am sure they’re going to have a lot of new interests and new ideas—just a different perspective on everything.
“It’s going to be quite helpful, I am sure.”
Harold Huntley had the next highest vote total (911), followed by Eric Fagerdahl (895), Allan T. Bedard (740), Jennifer Horton (718), Charleen Mallory (611), and Joe Kneisz (607).
Rounding out the council candidates were Jennifer Greenhalgh (563), Dan Belluz (560), Ed Haglund (476), and Scott Krienke-Turvey (192).
