Those voters still undecided as to who they’ll mark an “X” beside on the list of public school board trustee candidates on their mail-in ballots are encouraged to wait until Monday (Nov. 3) before they commit and attend a trustee debate at the Townshend Theatre.
Rudy Zeitlhofer, political action officer for the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation District 5B, said incumbents Dan Belluz and Gord McBride as well as newcomer Linda Wall—who are vying for the two Fort Frances seats on the Rainy River District School Board—have been lined up for the event, which starts at 7 p.m.
“The candidates each will be given their time to speak, but we’re really encouraging public participation,” said Zeitlhofer. “We want the people to ask them questions.
“Hopefully, people come out.”
Zeitlhofer noted the OSSTF is making an intensified effort to get the public involved in their children’s futures and with the new Liberal government leading the province, now is as good a time as any to sit and take notice.
“We want to make education an issue,” he remarked.
“Even though trustees don’t have the power they had before the Harris government made changes, they’re still responsible as to how tens of millions of dollars are spent every year,” he stressed.
While the debate here is being held just a week before election day (Nov. 10), it was the only time organizers could book the theatre, noted Zeitlhofer, adding it’s so busy there, this event wouldn’t be taking place if FFHS music teacher John Dutton hadn’t agreed to give up a band practice planned for that evening.
Zeitlhofer noted organizers also were surprised that there would be any election at all—given the fact Belluz and McBride have been acclaimed the past several elections.
“Linda Wall didn’t file until the last minute. And even then, I didn’t find out until the next day,” he said. “We couldn’t plan ahead.”
A second trustee debate also is slated for this Monday (Nov. 3) at 7:30 p.m. in the library at Rainy River High School. The three candidates vying for the lone seat up for grabs there include incumbent Ron McAlister and newcomers Lisa Armstrong and Crystal Lindal.
Zeitlhofer noted Rainy River is the only other municipality in the district which is seeing a trustee election.
Canada Post sent out mail-in ballots to town residents starting last Monday.
If, for whatever reason, eligible voters have not received a ballot in the mail or did not get on the mail-in list on time, they still can drop by the Civic Centre and pick up one up to election day.
The drop box at the Civic Centre will be the only one in this election.
However, there still will be drop boxes specifically for residents at Rainycrest Home for the Aged and the Continuing Care Unit at La Verendrye Hospital, as per a municipal bylaw.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
