Municipal ballots now set in Huron County
BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN
After the nomination deadline came and went on Friday afternoon, the ballots are now set for this fall’s municipal election across Huron County.
In Huron East, there will be a three-way race for mayor. Current Deputy-Mayor Alvin McLellan will be joined by Jonathan Hugill and Conlan Melady.
Lisa Glanville and incumbent Justin Morrison have been acclaimed as Brussels Ward Councillors, as Hilary Machan withdrew her name from the Brussels Ward and instead opted to run in the Grey Ward. She too has been acclaimed to the position alongside incumbent Dianne Diehl.
Incumbent Councillors Bob Fisher and John Steffler have both been acclaimed to their Seaforth Ward positions for another term, while newcomers Randy McClure and Heather Ashwin have been acclaimed in the McKillop Ward.
In addition to the mayoral election, there will be an election in the Tuckersmith Ward for those two councillor spots, with incumbent Ray Chartrand taking on newcomers Ryian McGregor, William “Bill” Tremeer and Bruce Williams. Peter Klaver had filed to run in the Tuckersmith Ward, but has since withdrawn, as has Jonathan MacLellan, who had filed in the Grey Ward.
Notably this draws to a close the lengthy political career of Larry McGrath, whose time on local councils predates amalgamation. He chose not to run in Huron East again for the coming term.
In North Huron, four men have put their names forward to be the next reeve with current Reeve Paul Heffer filing his nomination for a Wingham Ward councillor position. William G. Darling, Mitch Wright, Trevor Seip and Stephen “Buck” Hill have all been certified as candidates.
In Blyth, incumbent Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer and newcomers Fred de Boer and Kevin Bate will vie for two councillor positions, while incumbent East Wawanosh Councillors Chris Palmer and Anita van Hittersum have both been acclaimed to return to their positions.
In Wingham, five people are seeking two positions. The aforementioned Heffer will be challenged by Stacey Boyd, Brad Carther, Randall McGrail and Debbie Ritchie.
In Central Huron, current Deputy-Mayor Marg Anderson has been acclaimed as the mayor and former Deputy-Mayor Dave Jewitt has been acclaimed to the second-in-command position.
Three councillors have been acclaimed to the three West Ward positions: incumbents Michael Russo and Alison Lobb, alongside newcomer Vanessa T. Lishman. In the east ward, there will be an election, as four candidates are running for the three councillor positions: incumbents Jennifer Cox, Everett Smith and Adam Robinston, as well as newcomer Kaushik Patel.
Some last-minute action in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh (ACW) has shaken things up with incumbent Mayor Glen McNeil withdrawing his name from consideration for the mayor’s position and refiling for a councillor position. Current Councillor Evan Hickey and Ben Van Egmond are left to contend for mayor. Newcomer Patti Wilkins did the same, pulling her deputy-mayor nomination and filing for one of the five council positions. Incumbent Bill Vanstone and newcomer Lauren Rooyakkers are left to duke it out for the deputy-mayor position.
Eleven candidates are now vying for five councillor positions without an incumbent councillor among them. Current Mayor Glen McNeil is running alongside the aforementioned Wilkins, in addition to newcomers MacKenzie Deuschle, Ken Zelazny, Peggy Ducharme, Murray Curran, Paul Bollinger, David Errington, Gord Leamen, Dan Hayden and Tony McQuail.
In Morris-Turnberry, incumbent Mayor and current Huron County Warden Jamie Heffer has been acclaimed to another term, but there will be an election for councillors. Incumbent Councillor Kevin Freiburger will be joined by newcomers Dana Weber, David B. Heffer, Terry “Sumo” Brighton and Mike Miller as the five candidates vying for four councillor positions. (The top vote-getter among them will be elevated to the position of deputy-mayor.)
In Goderich, there will be a mayoral election with incumbent Trevor Bazinet being challenged by Steve Buchanan. Incumbent Councillor Randy Carroll has been acclaimed to the deputy-mayor position.
Vying for five councillor positions in Goderich are: incumbents Elizabeth “Liz” Petrie and Vanessa McMillan joined by newcomers Charles Oliver, Katherine “Kate” Krouskie, Will Kernohan, Jacob Bjerg, Rishad Dell Mohammed and Chris Garnier. Incumbent Deputy-Mayor Leah Noel had filed to be a councillor for the coming term, but withdrew that nomination.
Incumbent Councillor Doug Hargrave has been acclaimed as the next reeve of Howick Township, while incumbent Councillor Marvin Grimes and newcomer Shelley Miller-Cameron will contend for the deputy-reeve position.
Vying for three councillor positions are incumbent Councillor Rosemary Rognvaldson and newcomers Matthew Van Ankum, Evan Zinn, Rod MacEwen, Ben Blackmore, Kevin Doig, Michel Starenky and Mike Nichols.
In Bluewater, incumbent Mayor Paul Klopp will be challenged by former Mayor Tyler Hessel. Incumbent Bayfield Ward Councillor Bill Whetstone has been acclaimed as the deputy-mayor.
E.J. Bauer and Michael DeCorte will battle for the lone Bayfield Ward councillor position, while David Armstrong and incumbent Peter Walden are in the Stanley East Ward race. Incumbent Zurich Ward Councillor Winona Sangster will be challenged by Jason Becker and Brian Heagle will be acclaimed as the Hay West Ward councillor.
Incumbent Stanley West Ward Councillor Greg Lamport will be challenged by Brian Kellow, incumbent Hay East Ward Councillor Joey Groot will be challenged by Megan Goss and incumbent Hensall Ward Councillor Scott Harris will face Joan Bradley in this October’s election.
In South Huron, there is a three-way race for mayor between incumbent George Finch, former Mayor Maureen Cole and Ted Oke. Incumbent Deputy-Mayor Jim Dietrich has been acclaimed to the position for another term.
Four people are vying for two Ward 1 (Stephen) councillor positions: Dianne Faubert, Emilly Girodat, Ward 2 (Exeter) incumbent Councillor Wendy McLeod-Haggitt and incumbent Marissa Vaughan. Patti Desjardine-Soer had filed to run, but withdrew her nomination.
Again, four people are vying for two positions in Ward 2 (Exeter): incumbent Councillor Aaron Neeb and newcomers Laura Goulding, Antonio Munion and Daryl Demaray. Two people are nominated for the single Ward 3 councillor position being left behind by Ted Oke as he runs for mayor. Darren Boyle and Paul Passmore will duke it out, while Dianne Faubert withdrew her nomination and moved into candidacy for Ward 1 (Stephen).
In terms of school board elections, in Goderich and ACW, Joseph Cohen and Robert Hunking have put their names forward for the Avon Maitland District School Board, while Nickolas Vaessen and Alanna Fitzpatrick have stepped forward for the Catholic board. Rachid Barrima has been acclaimed as the French public representative, while Michael Salvatore has also been acclaimed in the French Catholic board.
In the north, in Howick, North Huron and beyond, Patricia Smith has been acclaimed as the Avon Maitland District School Board representative. In Huron East and Central Huron, Alysha Dowson and Deborah Logue will contend for the Avon Maitland District School Board trustee seat and Amy Cronin and Karen Doyle will battle for the Catholic spot.
In the south, Marnie Van Esbroeck has been acclaimed as the Avon Maitland District School Board representative and Graham Keys has also been acclaimed for the local Catholic board.
Telephone and internet voting throughout Huron County will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 13 and close at 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26.
The Citizen will include an election guide in its Friday, Oct. 9 issue, so keep an eye out for that when the time comes.