The nominations period for candidates in this fall’s municipal election has officially closed. On Oct. 25, the positions of mayor, councillors from 10 of 12 wards, and trustees from four school boards will be up for grabs.
Here is where the action is:
- Incumbent mayor John Rodriguez will be challenged by seven candidates. Ted Callaghan is challenging Rodriguez’s record. He is citing Rodriguez’s lack of consultation with city council over the St. Joseph hospital sale, and embarrassing the city over the worldwide exposure from the Elton John ticket controversy, as proof he must be replaced.
Other mayoral challengers, like businessman Zack Gauthier and former city employee Marianne Matichuk, stress change in administering the city being the issue — promoting the need for accountability at city hall and an end to waste.
Candidate Derek Young said there is a need for a more youthful presence at city hall.
In his own defence, Rodriguez is touting the city’s support for the school of architecture downtown and St. Gabriel’s long term facility in Chelmsford as some examples of his achievements and vision.
- In Ward 8, Ted Callaghan’s former ward, there are nine candidates for the council seat. Candidate Leo Bisson said he, Al Sizer, Harry Will, Fabio Belli and Lorenzo Tripodi are waging an aggressive sign campaign. Issues being raised by voters include frustration over road construction, poor bus service for seniors and lack of bicycle paths for youth, Bisson noted.
- In Ward 10, incumbent Frances Caldarelli, is facing a fight from Fern Cormier, a realtor who has worked on local political campaigns for 15 years. Steve Ripley and Mark Signoretti are also challenging Caldarelli. Cormier said residents are still talking about the hospital sale and even the Elton John ticket controversy.
They are saying ward councillors, such as Caldarelli, are as responsible as the mayor for these issues. Home damage from nearby construction blasting, prostitution in the downtown, and a noticeable deterioration in local parks are also issues being raised at the door, Cormier said.
- In two wards, councillors have been acclaimed: Ward 1 Coun. Joe Cimino and Ward 5 Coun. Ron Dupuis. Other councillors have retired, including Ward 11 Coun. Janet Gasparini and Ward 7 Coun. Russ Thompson, leaving their wards wide open for newcomers.
- Other former politicians are back. Terry Kett, former mayor of Walden, has returned to fight four others for a seat in Ward 11, where he said he lived for eight years. Dave Kilgour, former mayor of Capreol and a 36-year veteran of local politics, is vying for Ward 7 against Gordon Drysdale and Dave Della Vedova. Both are from the Garson portion of the ward.
Kilgour said he is running again because, along with many residents in his ward, he is frustrated there has not been enough progress in the 10 years since amalgamation in his ward and the whole city. He said the current 17-committee structure in Greater Sudbury needs to be streamlined. For example, he said the all terrain vehicle (ATV) committee was struck seven years ago, yet the city still lacks an ATV bylaw — despite a series of ATV accidents.
Running for city council positions in Greater Sudbury are:
Mayor Ted Callaghan, Zack Gauthier, John Rodriguez (incumbent), Marianne Matichuk, Derek Young, Ed Pokonzie, David Popescu, Dennis M. Gorman
Ward 1 Joe Cimino (incumbent) ACCLAIMED
Ward 2
Peter Albers, Jacques Barbeau (incumbent)
Ward 3
Claude Berthiaume (incumbent), Andrew Fahey, Rickey Goudreau
Ward 4 Evelyn Dutrisac (incumbent), Richard L. Paquette
Ward 5
Ron Dupuis (incumbent) ACCLAIMED
Ward 6
André Rivest (incumbent), Christine Guillot-Proulx, Pete Chenier
Ward 7
Gordon Drysdale, Dave Kilgour, Dave Della Vedova
Ward 8 Leo Bisson, Louis Delongchamp, Harry Will, Al Sizer, Fabio Belli, Ron Laplante, Alex Martinez, Ian McCracken, Lorenzo Tripodi
Ward 9 Doug Craig (incumbent), Jim Sartor, Paul Stopciati
Ward 10 Frances Caldarelli (incumbent), Fern Cormier, Steve Ripley, Mark Signoretti
Ward 11
Tom Fenske, Terry Kett, Mike Petryna, Gerry Paquette, Joe Vairo
Ward 12
Joscelyne Landry-Altmann (incumbent), Jeff MacIntyre
For more election information, go to elections.greatersudbury.ca, or phone 3-1-1.
