Incumbent Mayor Dan Marchisella, who is seeking a second term, received a warm response from the hundreds of Elliot Lake residents who packed the Collins Hall Wednesday evening for the all candidates forum hosted by the local Rotary Club.
Marchisella, whose campaign slogan is “Building Together,” thanked voters for their support over the past four years.
“Four years ago you voted for change, but change does take time,” the incumbent told the crowd of work still to be done.
He said the city is in a better financial position through the efforts of council and city staff and has been working on a strategic plan to work on maintenance and upgrades to the city’s infrastructure and facilities.
Marchisella said his priorities, if elected to another term, are to work to improve tourism, recreation, activities for an aging population, and attracting new business and jobs to keep young people here and draw new families in. He also said work will continue on a close working relationship between the city and Serpent River First Nation on lakefront development and economic development.
The incumbent also said the city is looking at ways to improve residential taxation between rural and urban homes.
Answering a question from the crowd, Marchisella indicated he favours the city assisting in the establishment of a privately operated cannabis store in the community. All candidates were asked to raise a hand if they favoured such a move and Marchisella raised his hand in an unofficial vote from all the candidates.
Daemon Jacques-Palmer, who is Marchisella’s only challenger in the Oct. 22 municipal vote, was absent from the event because he was reportedly out of the country. It is the second public all candidates meeting Jacques-Palmer has been absent from.