THUNDER BAY – Kevin Cernjul is the youngest candidate in the mayor’s race, but he sees that as a good thing.
The 31-year-old vocalist with the band The Bay Street Bastards, says his age sets him apart from the other 10 names on the ballot, someone who can look at the city through a different lens, with a youthful perspective.
“I think Thunder Bay’s youth need a voice and I want to be that voice for the city,” Cernjul said in May, when he filed his nomination papers at city hall to kick off the election campaign.
“I want to listen to our young community. A lot of friends and colleagues feel that city council doesn’t latent to their needs and issues. I want to be the one that sits down with them, takes the extra time to listen to those concerns and voice the opinion to city council.”
At the time of his nomination, Cernjul said how the city spends it tax dollars was likely going to be a major issue on the campaign trail. He also added harm reduction, including the pursuit of safe-injection sites, would be at the top of his post-election wish-list.
“I want to focus on youth addiction and get community programs, community involvement so we can integrate our youth back into the community rather than thinking they have an addiction or a problem,” Cernjul said.
“We’re going to try to remove that stigma of feeling like you have a problem and can bring you back into the community.”
Other priorities he identified to chase after included bringing industry and infrastructure to Thunder Bay, adding it would take collaboration with other city council members to explore options before presenting a plan to the public or potential strategies.
Admittedly inexperienced in politics and advised by some to seek a council seat before running for mayor, Cernjul said he was worried the message might get lost in a crowded race.
“When you have so many candidates running for at-large all with relatively the same ideas, it spreads it thin, whereas if I’m running for mayor, my ideas can be pushed in a different direction versus other candidates,” Cernjul said.
The municipal election is on Oct. 22. Online and Internet voting begins on Oct. 9.
Kevin Cernjul was invited to take part in our Meet the Candidates feature, but was not available for an interview.
