With the provincial election in the rearview mirror, the list of candidates running in October's municipal election is starting to grow.
Incumbent Mayor Brian Bigger formally registered to run for re-election Tuesday afternoon at Tom Davies Square. In a news release, Bigger said Sudbury has made significant progress under his watch.
“We’ve increased the city’s capital investment in roads and infrastructure, moved watershed studies from plans to action to protect our lakes, invested in the Downtown Masterplan including La Place Des Arts, Tom Davies Square, Brady Street Green Stairs, and the Elgin Street Pedestrian Underpass,” Bigger said in the release. “The Maley Drive extension is progressing on time and on budget. The four-laning of MR 35 is moving forward.
“We are on the cusp of some transformational changes in Greater Sudbury. The mining industry has a positive outlook. Greater Sudbury’s projections are for growth. Billions in investment from all industries are now planned in our community, with four new mine developments, the planned development on the Kingsway, and downtown at the Junction.”
Bigger's only declared rival for the mayor's seat so far – and more are rumoured to be running – is a novice to municipal politics, Cody Cacciotti of Capreol. Cacciotti, 33, is operations manager at the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre in Capreol. In a news release, he said he can translate his work at the rail museum to the city at large, spurring economic development and growth opportunities.
“His campaign will revolve around three themes – value for tax dollars, leadership and citizen empowerment,” the release said.
Cacciotti, who was born and raised in Sudbury, said he is not satisfied with the direction the city is headed. He announced his candidacy on Monday.
“I believe in a Greater Sudbury where our municipal government is working alongside citizens throughout the city to do what is necessary to move our community forward,” Cacciotti is quoted as saying in the release. “I believe in a Greater Sudbury where we are giving its citizens the best possible value for dollar when it comes to how tax dollars are allocated.”
On Monday, Ward 1 Coun. Mark Signoretti filed to run for re-election, joining eight of his colleagues who have filed to run again, or have said they will run. Michael Vagnini (Ward 2), Gerry Montpellier (Ward 3), Bob Kirwan (Ward 5), Rene Lapierre (Ward 6), Mike Jakubo (Ward 7), Al Sizer (Ward 8), Deb McIntosh (Ward 9) and Fern Cormier (Ward 10) have all said they are running again.
Ward 4 Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac has said she's retiring, and Ward 11 Coun. Lynne Reynolds has also said she's not running again. Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann has not yet said whether she is running again.
While no one has yet to register to run in Ward 11, former councillor Terry Kett said this week he planned to run again. Kett lost to Reynolds in the 2014 vote.
A full list of council, school board and mayoral candidates can be found here.
