Duane Hicks
The fall municipal election has begun to heat up here.
Coun. Andrew Hallikas on Friday filed his nominations papers to seek the mayor’s chair—and very well could be running against incumbent Roy Avis.
“We haven’t really had a change in council in eight years,” noted Coun. Hallikas.
“You’ll recall in the last election [in 2010], everybody was acclaimed.
“A lot has happened in Fort Frances in the past eight years,” Coun. Hallikas added.
“There’s been a lot of changes in Fort Frances, not the least of which, of course, is the closing of the mill.
“So I think it’s definitely time for a change on council,” he remarked.
“I’m hoping that we’ll have a true election this time, which means that all positions are contested.”
Coun. Hallikas also said he would like to see a much more diverse representation from all demographics in Fort Frances run for office.
“I wanted to get my name out there and was hoping that will serve as an incentive for other people to file their papers,” he noted.
“In particular, I’m hoping to see that we get some younger folks running, some women, Métis, First Nations.
“It would be really great to see a true election with all demographics represented,” Coun. Hallikas added.
“It’s time for a change,” he stressed. “Times have changed. Fort Frances has changed.
“And council needs to keep up with change.”
Coun. Hallikas has served on council for two terms after first being elected in 2006.
Mayor Avis, meanwhile, said he intends to file his nomination to run in the Oct. 27 election.
He noted yesterday he definitely is “leaning towards” running, but has been holding off making it official due to personal medical reasons.
However, he expects to make the decision in the next week.
Mayor Avis was first elected mayor in 2006, then was acclaimed in 2010. He served as councillor for nine years before being elected mayor.
Anyone interested in running for mayor, town council, the two school boards, or as the “Central” rep on the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board must file their papers at the Civic Centre prior to 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12.
Election day officially is Oct. 27, but town electors will begin receiving their mail-in ballots the first week of October.
They will be able to vote anytime after that, up to and including Oct. 27.
