Thompson voters will have plenty of choice in the Oct. 27 municipal elections, as a total of 30 candidates have let their names stand to run, the most since 1998.
That includes three candidates for mayor, 14 looking to fill the eight spots on city council (increased from seven in recent years), and 13 candidates battling for seven places as school trustees.
Running for mayor are incumbent Tim Johnston, who has held the position since 2006 and previously served one term as a councillor from 2002 to 2006, as well as Ron Matechuk, who ran against Johnston in 2006, and first-time contender Colleen Smook.
Four incumbent councillors are running for re-election, the longest-serving being Stella Locker, who has been on council since 1989. Also looking to return to City Hall are Judy Kolada, first elected in 1995, Charlene Lafreniere, first elected in 2006, and Erin Stewart, first elected in a 2009 byelection.
Returning to political races are Les Ellsworth, who ran for council unsuccessfully in 1998, and Luke Robinson, whose name appeared on the ballot as part of the 2009 byelection.
New contenders for city council chairs include Dayton Barenz, Penny Byer, Brad Evenson, Dennis Fenske, Dave Hennessey, Louis Morissette, Jasper W. Robinson, and George Van Nieuw Amerongen.
Five of seven current school board trustees have opted to run again in 2010: current board chair Cheryl Davies, current vice-chair Rob Pellizzaro, Mamie Hendren, Guido Oliveira, and Valerie Wilson. Pellizzaro was first elected in 1998, while Hendren, Oliveira, and Wilson became trustees in 2006.
Others seeking school board nominations who have campaign experience include Wayne Scibak, who was a trustee from 1998 through 2006, also running unsuccessfully for city council in 2002, and Khaled Hassanien, whose name appeared on the city council ballot in 2006.
New faces on the school board ballot will include Alexander Ashton, Cat Cogle, Sya Gregovski, Vince Nowlin, Bill Sanderson, and Leslie Tucker.
