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Flurry of last-minute nominees means fourth mayoral candidate

Mike Thomas, who initially planned to run for a councillor seat, has decided to instead run for mayor
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Since early May people in Elliot Lake have been filing nomination papers for a run at one of six city councillor seats, the mayor's chair or to seek a trustees spot on one of three local school boards.

The voting that will decide it all in the 2022 Elliot Lake municipal election will take place on Monday, Oct. 24.

We'll know who was elected that night, as results of advance poll and all day voting day balloting are announced at the Collins Hall. That's where the ballots will be tabulated after the polls close at 8 p.m.

What captured the most attention as the registration took place this year was the flurry of candidates who registered in the final week of eligibility. That includes a fourth person running for mayor.

In 2018, Dan Marchisella faced only one challenger who failed to mount a campaign, as he easily won re-election as mayor.

Four years later, Mike Thomas has just withdrawn his nomination for a run at a councillor's seat, and filed his nomination papers for a run at the mayor's chair instead. 

Thomas, a community accessibility advocate, ran unsuccessfully for council in 2018.

Chris Patrie was first in the quest for the mayor's chain of office this year, filing to run on May 12. It wasn't until June 30 that incumbent Marchisella made it a race. Geraldine Robinson expanded it to a three-way battle when she filed on Aug. 3. On the final morning, Thomas added his name.

As of publication time, there were 17 candidates running for the city's six city councillor positions. Apparently sizing up the field, no incumbent filed until Tom Turner did so in late July.

The registered candidates include Richard Laurin, Gary Kirk, Tammy Van Roon, and Tammy Brown who each filed their nomination papers in May.

There were no new nominations in June and then another flurry of councillor candidates appeared in July, including Bruce Ibbitson, Thomas (now withdrawn), Len Kutchaw, Margaret Pollard, Turner, Ken Young on July 21, Sandy Finamore, and Norman Mann.

Putting their names in the hat in August included Rick Bull, Helen Lefebvre, Andrew Wannan, Charles Flintoff, Luc Morrissette, Merrill Siedel.

Luc Cyr, who topped the polls last time in 2018 did not seek reelection and long-time Coun. Ed Pearce announced he would not seek re-election months ago.

A pair of candidates are in the running for school trustee at the Algoma District School Board, including Marie Foran Murphy and Andrew Ault.

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board trustee candidates are Lindsay Liske, Reginald Simon and Kathleen Rosilius.

The Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nort de L'Ontario nominee is Rachelle Beaubien.

Elliot Lake City Clerk Natalie Bray will examine all the nominations and is expected to make a declaration of the official list of candidates on Monday.



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About the Author: Brent Sleightholm

As a reporter, Brent has covered everything from amateur and professional sports, to politics, entertainment, police and courts, to human interest stories and government issues
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