Candidates have had more than two months to file nomination papers. Now clerks in Elliot Lake and other area municipalities will start preparing ballots and election machinery for the next municipal vote, on Oct. 22, to be held province-wide.
Elliot Lake Mayor Dan Marchisella learned only days before nominations closed on Friday that he will be opposed in his quest for a second four-year term. With only days left to file, Daemon Jacques-Palmer announced he would challenge Marchisella for the mayor’s job.
There are 15 candidates running for the six available positions on the City of Elliot Lake council, including all six incumbent councillors. Up for re-election are Tammy VanRoon, Ed Pearce, Chris Patrie, Norman Mann, Luc Cyr and Sandy Finamore. Challenging the incumbents are Greg Lawrence, Geraldine Rena Robinson, James Pawson, Tom Turner, Mike Thomas, Luc D. Morrissette, Roger Hachey, Frederick Joseph Henwood and Helen Lefebvre.
Two people are seeking the single spot as French Catholic school trustee: Paul Gervais and Gabriel Tremblay. Seeking spots as English Catholic school trustee (two to be elected) are Reginald Simon, Kathleen Rosilius, Lindsay Liske and William D'Arcy Halligan. Looking for a seat on the English public school board are Marie Murphy-Foran and Pauline Brunet. (One to be elected.) As well, aspiring to serve as the sole French public school trustee is Suzanne Nolin.
Along the North Shore in the Town of Blind River, there's a three-way race for mayor including current multi-term Mayor Sue Jensen and challengers Sally Hagman and Alex Solomon.
Seeking election as one of the six members of Blind River town council are incumbents Jim Dunbar, H.P. Roy, Clifford Spratt, Steven Wells and Paula Summers. Looking to fill the remaining town council seat are Betty Ann Dunbar and Robert Ambeault.
Current councillor and Deputy Mayor Ken Kennedy is not running for re-election.
In Espanola, Mayor Ron Piche is being challenged as the town’s chief magistrate by Jill Beer.
Five of the six current Espanola town councillors are running again. Robert Yocum has decided not to seek election for the next four-year term through 2022. In the running are incumbents Bill Foster (deputy mayor) along with veterans Ray Dufour, Ken Duplessis, Ron Duplessis and Heather Malloy. Challenging them for a council seat are Sandra Hayden and Maureen A. Van Alstine.
Seeking election as Rainbow District School Board trustee from Espanola are Daphne Allen and Robert Clement. (One to be elected.) Running for the Huron Superior Catholic District School Board (two positions to be filled) are Lindsay Liske, Kathleen Rosilius and Reginald Simon.
On Monday, city and town clerks Natalie Bray (Elliot Lake), Katie Scott (Blind River) and Paula Roque (Espanola) will examine all the paperwork submitted with candidate applications by the deadline of 2 p.m. Friday to declare if all the unofficial nominations are actually official.