Tannis Drysdale is the latest to announce her intention to run for a seat on town council this November.
“Successful leadership is the result of the development of an effective team. All victories come from the power of a community that creates the vision,” Drysdale told a crowd of about 10 people during a reception at the Rainy Lake Hotel yesterday afternoon.
“I look forward to using my experience to create a vision for growth and prosperity in the next century, here in my home town, Fort Frances,” she added.
Drysdale, a consultant by trade and currently president of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce, already has a campaign platform focusing on—among other things—cutting red tape, forming a citizens’ task force to truly represent the community’s opinions, improving the local business climate, and using her clout with provincial and federal governments to get the funding from those authorities Fort Frances deserves.
She said she’s considered running for some time but only recently decided to commit to the possible position, adding she’s confident she has the right stuff for the job.
Drysdale noted she even considered running for mayor, but changed her mind after Coun. Deane Cunningham, a former mayor of Fort Frances, announced his intention to succeed Mayor Glenn Witherspoon.
“Deane’s the better choice [than me],” she said, adding she fully supports the former mayor and would vote for him at the polls.
Drysdale said she’s looking forward to November, and is hopeful more nominees come out of the woodwork to vie for seats on council before the election.
“I think our current council has worked very hard to make the town its best,” she said. “But I also think it’s a sign of a healthy community that people come forward not only to take a place on council, but get involved in various town committees.”
Drysdale joins Todd Hamilton, who officially threw his hat in the ring last Monday to run for council.
“My wife [Jody] and I have discussed it. I think it’s time,” Hamilton said last Thursday morning. “We discussed this three years ago, before the last election. But my children were young and I had to take a good look at my priorities.
“Now, they’re seven and four, and I think I’ll be able to handle the time commitment,” he added.
Hamilton, president and general manager of Lakeland Personnel here, also said he’d like to see more new faces step forward to run for council.
Meanwhile, Couns. Neil Kabel, Struchan Gilson, Roy Avis, and Sharon Tibbs all have said they definitely will run again. Only Coun. Dave Bourgeault has said he will not seek re-election in November.
As first reported in Friday’s Daily Bulletin, Coun. Cunningham filed his nomination papers for the position of mayor last Thursday.
“It was a matter of getting the consent from my family,” said Coun. Cunningham, who previously had stated he was considering a run for mayor.
“The job is very time-consuming. So, I talked it over with my wife and children, and we felt that at this time in my life, it be something worthwhile for me to dedicate myself to,” he added.
Coun. Cunningham noted “it’s been a great run on council,” and that the centennial year had got him thinking about the town’s achievements.
“But I’m really looking forward to the future. We have a lot of work ahead of us,” he remarked. “I think I have the knowledge and the experience to do the
job well.”
Coun. Cunningham previously served as mayor of Fort Frances from 1981-85.
He is joined by Dan Onichuk, who officially declared his candidacy shortly after Mayor Witherspoon announced last month that he would not be seeking a fifth-straight term at the helm.
Onichuk said in a press release Monday that he was pleased to see the recent announcements by Hamilton, Drysdale, and Coun. Cunningham.
“I am happy Todd [Hamilton] has decided to run for a sat on council. I contacted Todd to congratulate him and wish him all the best,” he remarked.
Onichuk added he’s pleased to see another new face, Drysdale, step forward, too.
“I also know of more people who plan to jump on board—two for sure, and two more who are thinking about it,” he added. “Like the mayor [Glenn Witherspoon] said, it’s time for a change. And I think we’ll see that.”
As for Coun. Cunningham, Onichuk noted, “This ends the speculation and the campaign begins.”
Anyone interested in running for mayor or council must file their nomination papers with Clerk Glenn Treftlin at the Civic Centre prior to 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26.
Election day is Nov. 10. Canada Post is expected to send out the mail-in ballots to town residents in October.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
