Lacklustre interest from candidates will see Flin Flon’s next school board acclaimed while all but one aspiring city councillor is guaranteed a seat.
When nominations for next month’s civic election closed Tuesday, seven candidates had filed to run for school board. Since there are only seven seats available, all of them will become trustees with no election necessary.
The board, which will take office after the Oct. 22 election, consists of incumbents Angela Simpson, Murray Skeavington, Tim Davis and Trish Sattelberger along with newcomers Andy Burbidge, Leslie Fernandes and Amy Sapergia Green.
Seven candidates
Meanwhile, the race for city council’s six non-mayoral positions consists of just seven candidates in incumbents Ken Pawlachuk, Colleen McKee, Karen MacKinnon, Tim Babcock and Bill Hanson along with newcomers Leslie Beck and Tom Davie.
Battling incumbent George Fontaine for the mayor’s seat are former city councillor Cal Huntley and darkhorse candidate Robin James.
Under any scenario, council as a whole will retain at least four of its present members for the upcoming term.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, Mayor Fontaine congratulated the next school board and wished all candidates well.
The election will mark the end of the line for Coun. Skip Martin, who chose not to seek re-election after a single term. Bidding the school board farewell are two-term trustees Karen Yeo and Glenn Smith along with one-term trustee Vicki Davie.
Simpson’s return to the school board will assure her of at least 36 years as a Flin Flon trustee, having first joined the board in 1982.
The longest-serving city councillor is Hanson, who was on council from 1992 to 1995 and again from 2002 to present.
The Reminder is planning in-depth coverage of the campaign complete with Q and A interviews with all of the candidates.
