Gore Bay and Burpee Mills the exceptions
MANITOULIN—As the last four-year municipal office term winds down across Ontario, Manitoulin joins the rest of the province’s communities in ramping up for the 2014 municipal elections on Monday, October 27 with the announcement of the certified candidates for office. In a few wards, there are lots of nominations and the possibility of much change. The exception is in two West End municipalities where voters have election day off.
Burpee Mills
In the Township of Burpee Mills, incumbent Ken Noland is acclaimed as reeve. Incumbent councillors Wayne Bailey, Lyle Honess and Pentti Palonen have all tossed their hats in the ring again, as has newcomer Art Hayden, for the four council seats so the slate is acclaimed to office.
Gore Bay
There will not be an election in Gore Bay either as incumbent Ron Lane is acclaimed as mayor along with incumbent councillors Yvonne Bailey, Jack Clark and Ken Blodgett who will be joined by newcomers Larry Eirikson, Dan Osborne and Kevin Woestenenk.
Gordon/Barrie Island
Current Gordon/Barrie Island Reeve Jack Brady is not running for reelection, however incumbent councillors Barbara Barfoot and Lee Hayden are vying to take over the position. Incumbent councillor Betty Noble is seeking reelection on council and will join challengers Sea Marsland, Perry Patterson, Bill Baker, Ted Culgin and Adrianne Merrylees on the ballot for the four person council.
Billings
In Billings, longstanding Mayor Austin Hunt has been challenged by incumbent Councillor Sandi Hurcomb and newcomer David Yurich.
Incumbent councillors Tom Imrie, Brian Parker and Sharon Alkenbrack are seeking another four years at the four council table but so are Nora Bath-Haring, Barbara Erskine, David J. Montgomery, Delroy Prescott and Connie Suite.
Central Manitoulin
Current Central Manitoulin Mayor Gerry Strong is seeking reelection, challenged by past Central Manitoulin Mayor Richard Stephens in a rematch of the 2010 election.
Incumbent councillors Pat MacDonald (Ward 1), Derek Stephens (Ward 1), Gloria Haner (Ward 2), Adam McDonald (Ward 2) and Ted Taylor (Ward 3) are vying for one of the six council seats again, joined by Wes Cline (Ward 1), Petra Wall (Ward 1), Alex Barran (Ward 2), Dale Scott (Ward 2), Linda Farquhar (Ward 3), John Finlay (Ward 3) and Keith Legge (Ward 3). In Central Manitoulin, each of the old pre-amalgamation wards (Campbell, Carnarvon and Sandfield) is represented by two councillors so voters in each ward have choices to make.
Tehkummah
Incumbent Reeve Gary Brown and incumbent Councillor Eric Russell are both looking to fill the reeve’s chair in Tehkummah.
Incumbent councillors Paul Bowerman, Lorie Leeson and Lydia McKenna are all also seeking reelection at the four seat council table and will be joined on the ballot by Ron Hierons, Laird Lee, Mike McKenzie and Don McMurray.
Northeast Town
In the Northeast Town, incumbent Mayor Al MacNevin is acclaimed. All of the incumbent Northeast Town councillors are seeking reelection: Christina Jones (Ward 1), Michael Erskine (Ward 2), Bill Koehler (Ward 2), Melissa Peters (Ward 2), Marcel Gauthier (Ward 3), Dawn Orr (Ward 4), Paul Skippen (Ward 4) and Bruce Wood (Ward 4) are hoping to retain their seats at the eight seat council table but are being challenged by Laurie Cook (Ward 1), Martha Boyle (Ward 2), Tom Spry (Ward 2), Debby Turner (Ward 2) Mike Bailey (Ward 3), Tony Ferro (Ward 4), Dan Leblanc (Ward 4) and Jamie McCulligh (Ward 4). In the Northeast Town, also a product of the amalgamation of three municipalities, Ward One (the islands) has one councillor, Ward Two (Little Current) has three councillors, Ward Three has one councillor and Ward Four (the old Howland Township) has three councillors.
Assiginack
In the Township of Assiginack, incumbent councillor Paul Moffatt is acclaimed as reeve. Reeve Brad Ham declined to run again.
Incumbent councillors Robert Case, Leslie Fields and Brenda Reid are seeking reelection to the four seat council table, as are Cole Bowerman, Fionn Closs and Hugh Moggy.
Cockburn Island
Lastly, in the Township of Cockburn Island Brenda Jones has been acclaimed as mayor while Robert Brown, Glen Cressman, Evan Papineau, Don Rogers, Jason Stewart and Scott Stewart are all vying to fill the four spots at the council table.
School Trustee
In the Rainbow District School Board trustee’s election, incumbent Manitoulin trustee Larry Killens has put his name in the ring and will be joined on the ballot by Maureen Egan.
In October, every eligible elector will receive a voter information letter in the mail containing the confidential information required to vote in their municipality. In order to ensure you receive your voter information letter, make sure you are on the voters’ list and that all information is correct. For more information call or visit your municipal office.
Jill Ferguson of Billings will be organizing an on-going Q & A session with the Billings council candidates on Facebook (facebook.com/kagawong1). She will be posting a question every few days and inviting candidates to respond with their thoughts and opinions.
“The candidates will be sent each question 24-48 hours in advance,” she explained to The Expositor. “It will be informal, but I thought it was a good way to get to know them a bit better.”
The Expositor will have ongoing coverage of the municipal elections across Manitoulin in the weeks to come leading up to October 27, including interviews with the prospects for mayor and reeve of every municipality.
