Ballots Finalized For Northern Civic Elections
Friday, September 29, 2006 at 14:09
We now have a good idea of how the municipal election races are shaping up in some of the North’s largest centres.
The deadline for nominations has come and gone, and many northern municipalities have several candidates in the running for mayor.
Sandy Bay has eight people in the race to succeed Garry Morin, who relinquished his duties in June because of illness.
The candidates include Cornelius Ballentyne, Ina Fietz-Ray, Danny Laurin, Tracy Merasty, Doreen Morin, Paul R. Morin, Norman Nateweyes and Clifford Ray.
In Ile-a-la-Crosse, five people are challenging incumbent Max Morin — William Caisse, Yvonne Daigneault, Duane Favel, Louis Gardiner and Leonard Raymond.
Meanwhile, in Buffalo Narrows, incumbent Bobby Woods has four challengers — Philip Chartier, Kenneth Larson, Marlene Nicholls and Irene Pedersen.
There are also five people running for mayor in Green Lake. Incumbent Rae Leibel is up against former mayor Fred McCallum, Rodney Laliberte, Phane Ray and Ric Richardson.
The mayoral race in Pelican Narrows has attracted four candidates. Incumbent Horace Morin will take on Emile Ballantyne, Keith McCallum and Ovide M. Michel.
La Ronge and Air Ronge will see a couple of two-horse races. Incumbent La Ronge mayor Joe Hordyski will again be matched up against Ron Woytowich, while in Air Ronge, incumbent Gordon Stomp will face Ron Ratte.
Incidentally, a second call for nominations for village council will be needed in Air Ronge since only three people put their names forward for the four available positions. Former councillor Terry DesRoches and incumbents Tom Carlson and Jeff Simpson are all in by acclamation.
As for Creighton, incumbent mayor Bruce Fidler will be back for another term after winning by acclamation.
All seven communities will hold their civic votes on October 25th.
Meanwhile, a number of smaller northern municipalities held their votes earlier this week.
The chairs of the local advisory committees include Frank Petit in Black Point, Donald Laprise in Garson Lake, Eugene McLeod in Brabant Lake and Warner Carlson in Southend. Petit, Laprise and Carlson were re-elected as incumbents — McLeod takes over from William McKenzie.