The names for those running for a seat in the Town of St. Paul and the County of St. Paul councils, as well as those running for local school boards have been announced, following the close of nominations on Sept. 20 at noon.
Since nominees have until noon on Sept. 21 to withdraw their names, the following is still only an unofficial list of candidates. Keep watching for interviews and more coverage of each of the candidates in the upcoming issues of the St. Paul Journal in the lead up to municipal elections on Oct. 18.
There will be a three-way race for the new Reeve-at-Large position, which, for the first time this year, will be decided by all voting County of St. Paul residents, rather than having the reeve chosen by council itself. Incumbent Robert Bouchard will be running, but Benjamin Dyck and Steve Upham will also be campaigning to be reeve.
In Division 1 and Division 4, the incumbents, Glen Ockerman and Maxine Fodness, have been returned to their seats by acclamation. However, former Division 2 Coun. Tom Kurek is not running, and Dwight Dach and Kevin Wirsta will vie for his vacated seat.
In Division 3, incumbent Cliff Martin faces Wayne Tymofichuk and Vi Wozniak, while in Division 5, former councillor Frank Sloan will be running against Donna Dubrule and Donna Hanson. In Division 6, challenger Louis Dechaine will take on incumbent Alphonse Corbiere.
For the Town of St. Paul, Glenn Andersen has been returned to the mayor’s chair by acclamation. The six incumbents, Pat Gratton. Trevor Kotowich, Ken Kwiatkowski, John Trefanenko, Gary Ward, and Danny White, are all running to reclaim their seats, while two new challengers, Don Mudryk and Don Padlesky, have also thrown their hats in the ring for a seat on council.
Five of the seven trustees on St. Paul Education Regional Division’s school board have been declared elected by acclamation. Incumbents Ron Rudkowsky, for Ward C, Rhonda Lafrance, for Ward D, and Maureen Miller, for the Glen Avon Ward, have all been returned to the school board, with their nominations uncontested.
Rhea Looy and Heather Starosielski will be joining these trustees at the table, serving Wards E and F respectively, also by acclamation.
However, in Ward A, incumbent and former chairperson of the board Darrell Younghans will be taking on Parrish Tung, while incumbent Deb Pederson faces John Pilipchuk in Ward B elections.
Five candidates will be serving the francophone school board, having been declared elected by acclamation. Serving as Catholic councillors on the board are Réal Jodoin, for Bonnyville, Ernest Piquette, for St. Paul, Michčle Dallaire, for Plamondon and Alain Dallaire, for Cold Lake. Guy Généreux will be the public representative for the Bonnyville, Cold Lake, Plamondon and St. Paul areas.
