THUNDER BAY – The mayor’s race will be a lot less crowded in 2022 than it was four years ago in Thunder Bay, but interest in running for city council a little bit higher.
A total of 59 candidates filed to run for a city council seat on Oct. 24, two fewer than ran in the last municipal election, though there will be six fewer mayoral candidates in 2022 compared to four years ago.
“We have a few less than 2018, but I would say that based on our data, 2018 was a bit of an anomaly, with extremely high numbers. We’re quite on par from 2010 and 2014,” said city clerk and returning officer Krista Power.
“About 34 per cent of folks filed this week.”
Former two-time mayor Ken Boshcoff, former Chronicle Journal publisher Clint Harris, current at-large Coun. Peng You, entrepreneur Gary Mack and LU Radio host Robert Szczepanski are the candidates for the city’s top job.
No new mayoral candidates filed to run on the final day of the nomination period, which closed at 2 p.m. on Friday.
There are 24 candidates who have filed to run at large, two fewer than in 2018.
One of the most crowded ward races is in Northwood, where five candidates are seeking the seat soon to be vacated by two-time incumbent Shelby Ch’ng, who will instead run at large this time around. Bill Dell, Syed Kabir, Chris Krumpholz, Mike Maher and Dominic Pasqualino are in the running.
Red River has the most candidates, six, with the winner, to be chosen from candidates Brad Ford, James Dean Marsh, Martin Rukavina, Katherine Suutari, Jason Veltri and Michael Zussino, one of at least five new faces on council. Brian McKinnon, who has held the seat since 2006, announced his retirement from municipal politics after serving the ward for 16 years.
Other current councillors not on this year’s ballot include long-time at-large Couns. Rebecca Johnson and Aldo Ruberto, Mayor Bill Mauro and Neebing Coun. Cody Fraser – the latter two deciding to walk away after one term.
All seven wards have at least two candidates, meaning there will be no acclamations in Thunder Bay.
“Many of the ward races are very busy,” Power said. “Initially we saw them very quiet.”
Andrew Foulds goes up against long-time foe Andy Wolff and newcomer Duff Stewart in Current River, while incumbent Albert Aiello will face off against Brent Boyko in McIntyre, the latter waiting until the second-last day to file.
In Northwood, Bill Dell, Syed Kabir, Chris Krumpholz, Dominic Pasqualino and Mike Maher, who filed on Friday, are in the hunt, while in McKellar, incumbent Brian Hamilton faces competition from Cory Bagdon, Stephanie Danylko and Lori Paras.
Westfort is also a four-candidate race, with Kristen Oliver hoping to retain the seat she first won in 2018 in a race that includes John Collins, Alan Corbett and David Tommasini, who ran for the New Blue Party in the most recent federal election.
In Neebing, former NDP candidate Yuk-Sem Won will compete against Debra Halvorsen, Greg Johnsen, Shaun Kennedy and last-minute candidates Basil Lychowyd and Brad DesRochers, all hoping to replace one-term city councillor Fraser.
There are 30 people running for the four school boards on the ballot, 14 in the English Public School Board race, 11 in the English Separate Board competition, four in the French Public and one in the French Separate.
Outgoing Lakehead Public Schools director of education Ian MacRae was among three candidates to file Friday in the Public Board race, joining Paul David Sequeira and Gary Christian. Other contestants include incumbents George Saarinen, Trudy Tuchenhagen, Ron Oikonen, Ellen Chambers and Ryan Sitch.
Newcomers include Leah Vanderwey, Donica LeBlanc, Gary Johnson, Kelly Fetes, Pat Johansen and Ahsanul Habib.
Current trustees Marg Arnone, Sue Doughty-Smith and Deb Massaro did no re-offer this time around.
There are seven slots up for grabs in the English Separate race, where current trustees Kathy O’Brien and Sarah Pelletier won’t be on the ballot in 2022. Five other incumbents – Tony Romeo, Francis Veneruz, Eleanor Ashe, Dina McFarlane and Lawrence Badanai – have all filed to run again.
New faces on the ballot include Matt Pearson, Anthony Foglia, Tony Pucci, Leanne Fonso, Adam Shaen and Gloria Gabriielcic.
Claudette Gleeson, Elode Grunerud, Angele Desbiens and Donald Pelletier are running for French Separate School Board trustee and Anne-Marie Gelineault is the lone name in the French Public Board trustee contest.
