Duane Hicks
It looks as if the current mayor and council will be acclaimed to their next term, with no election necessary Oct. 25.
Nominations closed at 2 p.m. today and as of noon, no one beyond the incumbents had put their names forward to run.
Clerk Glenn Treftlin said if no one else submits their nomination by the deadline, the incumbents would be acclaimed.
While he has seen elections where the position of mayor was determined by acclamation, Treftlin noted this would be the first time since he’s been clerk that there’s been no contest for council.
Acclamation can take place as soon as nominations close this afternoon if no one else has stepped forward.
This acclaimed council would retain all of its current powers, and it would be business as usual for it, Treftlin explained.
By contrast, under a “lame duck” council, which occurs if less than 75 percent of the incumbent members of the current council are nominated, council can be prevented from doing certain acts between nomination day and election day.
And if less than 75 percent of the members of the current council are re-elected to the new council, council can be prevented from doing certain acts between election day and being sworn to office in December.
As previously reported, Roy Avis put in his name for a second term as mayor while Couns. John Albanese, Andrew Hallikas, Ken Perry, Paul Ryan, Sharon Tibbs, and Rick Wiedenhoeft all filed their nominations for the six seats on council.
Meanwhile, there will be an election needed for Fort Frances’ two seats on the Rainy River District School Board.
Incumbent Terry Higgins filed his nomination today, joining incumbent Dan Belluz and newcomer Dave Kircher who had filed theirs some time ago.
As well, there will be an election for Fort Frances’ two seats on the Northwest Catholic District School Board.
Incumbents Paul Cousineau, Anne-Marie Fitzgerald, and Harold Huntley are vying for two Fort Frances seats on the separate school board.
The Catholic board reduced the number of Fort Frances seats from three to two earlier this year, explaining why three incumbents are running for two seats.
Treftlin urged public and separate school supporters to check to see if they are on the voters’ list. If not, they should inform the clerk’s office (274-5323) by the end of the day on Monday (Sept. 13).
The voters’ list can be viewed at the Civic Centre, Memorial Sports Centre, and Fort Frances Public Library, or by using the Internet voter look-up feature at www.fort-frances.com/election
While the online voter look-up feature does not the indicate voters’ public or separate school support, the lists at the other three locations do.
If the address or school support information is wrong, contact the clerk’s office.
The election will be vote-by-mail, with voter kits to be in the mail Sept. 27.
