Pastor Stephen Laing late Thursday afternoon added his name to the list of candidates running for a seat on town council in the November election.
As the clock ticks down on the deadline to file nomination papers (5 p.m. today at the Civic Centre), the pastor at Calvary Tabernacle Church brings the number of people running for council back up to nine.
Coun. Sharon Tibbs, who was running for council, joined the mayor’s race Wednesday afternoon after Coun. Deane Cunningham withdrew due to health reasons.
As of press time Friday morning (six hours prior to the nomination deadline), those running for council include incumbents Roy Avis, Struchan Gilson, and Neil Kabel, along with John Albanese (who previously has sat on council), Tannis Drysdale, Bud Edwards, Todd Hamilton, Laing, and Rick Wiedenhoeft.
Coun. Dave Bourgeault is not seeking re-election.
“I don’t think it’s a surprise I’m seeking the office of mayor,” Coun. Tibbs said Friday morning. “This isn’t the first time I’ve considered doing this over my past terms on council.
“With Mr. Cunningham leaving the race, it’s time for me to step forward and say that I’m prepared to lead this community. I wish him improved health,” she added.
Coun. Tibbs filed to run for a spot on council last month.
“I made the statement earlier [this summer] that I would be seeking a seat at the council table,” she noted. “This week, it’s become clear which seat that will be.
“This position requires commitment on one’s part. I have that commitment,” she stressed.
The only other person in the mayoral race in these final hours before the nomination deadline is Dan Onichuk, who declared his candidacy shortly after Mayor Glenn Witherspoon announced in July that he would not be seeking a fifth-straight term at the helm.
As far as school board trustees go, only incumbents Dan Belluz and Gord McBride so far have filed to run again for the Fort Frances seats on the Rainy River District School Board.
Meanwhile, incumbent Anne-Marie Fitzgerald also filed her nomination papers Thursday, joining fellow incumbents Harold Huntley and Gerry Rousseau in seeking re-election to the Northwest Catholic District School Board.
This fills up all three Fort Frances seats on that board.
Mary Ellen Kennedy has put her name forward for trustee of the Le Conseil Scolaire de District Catholique des Aurores Boreales.
(Fort Frances Daily Bulletin)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
