With the deadline looming for those registering to compete for office in the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 22, there are still a few question marks in our area municipalities.
In Elliot Lake, Mayor Dan Marchisella is so far unopposed in his bid for re-election to a second term as mayor. Three out of six Elliot Lake current councillors – Tammy Van Roon, Ed Pearce and Chris Patrie – have ponied up their registration fees and papers at the office of City Clerk Natalie Bray.
That leaves incumbents Luc Cyr, Norman Mann and Sandy Finamore still undeclared. A number of challengers have registered to run for one of the city's six council seats. They include Greg Lawrence, Geraldine Rena Robinson, James Pawson and Tom Turner who have all registered to run.
In nearby Espanola, Mayor Ron Piche is seeking another term as the town's chief magistrate. He's being opposed by Jill Beer. Three of Espanola's six current councillors have filed registration papers at town hall including Ron Duplessis, Bill Foster and Heather Malott. Maureen Van Alstine also wants to be elected as town councillor. Still to declare are incumbents Ray Dufour, Ken Duplessis and Robert Yocum.
Along the North Shore in Blind River, Mayor Sue Jensen is being opposed by challengers Sally Hagman and Alex Solomon. Up to run for Blind River Council are incumbents Jim Dunbar, H.P. Roy, Clifford Spratt and Paula Summers. Deputy Mayor and incumbent councillor Ken Kennedy and incumbent councillor Steven Wells haven't yet registered.
Betty Ann Dunbar is also registered and has been registered to run for council in Blind River.
For the school trustee races, only Sheila Nyman is running for English Public in Blind River.
Running in Espanola for the Rainbow District School Board is Robert Clement.
It's more of race in most of the school trustee categories in Elliot Lake. Running for English Public Trustee at the Algoma District School Board are Marie Murphy-Foran and Pauline Brunet. Also running in Elliot Lake are English Separate contenders Reginald Simon, Kathleen Rosilius and Lindsay Liske. Going for French Public Trustee is Suzanne Nolin. Seeking the nod for French Separate trustee is Paul Gervais.
The deadline for filing nomination papers for the Oct. 22 municipal election is Friday, July 27. Clerks in various municipalities will verify the nominations and publish the candidate lists on Monday, July 30.