He faces an uphill battle in trying to unseat a popular incumbent, but Cal Huntley begins his campaign for Flin Flon mayor with some distinct advantages.
Huntley’s chief asset may well be that he lost his council seat in 2010. His absence from city hall over the past four years means he can distance himself from whatever controversies, both real and imagined, voters will have in mind when they cast their ballots.
Cottagers, many of whom feel alienated by the current city council, represent a voting bloc sure to give Huntley’s candidacy serious consideration.
Remember, many cottagers can vote in civic elections because they also own property in Flin Flon. And even those who only have property at the lake have, in some cases at least, sympathetic family and friends in town.
When cottage owners voted on council’s latest annexation-averting proposal last week, everyone present, save for one man, voted against it. Huntley went with the overwhelming majority.
Fontaine’s backing
Granted, incumbent mayor George Fontaine has plenty of backing in his ceaseless quest to derive new revenue from what he and his supporters view as fair sources.
The defining argument of Fontaine’s mayoralty has been that Flin Flon’s neighbours – on both the Manitoba and Saskatchewan sides – are part of a singular community that should be sharing costs accordingly.
As they watch their taxes and utility bills rise, many Flin Flonners are not blaming Fontaine, but rather buying into his line of reasoning.
The central challenge for Huntley will be answering, effectively and thoroughly, this question: How exactly would the last four years have been better with you in charge?
