Municipal elections: Ron Gervais acclaimed as Pembroke mayor; many races set across Renfrew County
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With nominations closing across Renfrew County on Friday, the table of candidates is set for the Oct. 24 municipal elections.
In the City of Pembroke, current Mayor Mike LeMay opted not to run for a third straight term. Deputy Mayor Ron Gervais announced his attention to seek the mayor’s seat last spring and with no one else putting their name forward, he has been acclaimed as mayor for the first time.
Six council seats are available around the table with four current councillors seeking reelection – Brian Abdallah, Ed Jacyno, Pat Lafreniere and Andrew Plummer. Councillor Christine Reavie is not seeking reelection this time around. The new names on the ballot are Chela Breckon, Dan Callaghan, Andrew Clark, Ian Kuehl, Jason Laronde, Dorian Pearce, Troy Purcell, Stacy Taylor, Wade Wallace, Karen Walsh and Jane Wood. The deputy mayor is determined by the candidate who garners the most votes.
For over two decades, Bob Sweet has been the mayor of Petawawa but with Sweet opting not to run for a seventh straight term, someone new will be wearing the chain of office. Putting their names forward for mayor are current Deputy Mayor Gary Serviss, and Jody Anne McDonald. Council members seeking reelection to one of the six council seats are James Carmody, Theresa Sabourin, Matthew McLean and Murray Rutz. The challengers are Simon Brooks, Lisa Coutu, Adam Driscoll, Karen Donovan, Gerald Hoffman, Cyndi Mills and Barry Schimmens.
In Laurentian Valley, Steve Bennett has been acclaimed as mayor for a third straight term. Earlier this year, after 16 years as a municipal politician, eight as reeve of Laurentian Valley and three years as the warden of the County of Renfrew, Debbie Robinson announced that she would not be seeking re-election this year and was stepping away from municipal politics. Vying to represent the township as reeve are current councillors Chris Pleau and Keith Watt. There are five council seats in play. Seeking re-election are Allan Wren, Jen Gauthier and Brian Hugli. Tossing their hats into the ring are Mike Summers, Danny Janke, Betty King, Stewart Ray, Jason Schulz and Wendy Hewitt.
Whitewater will have a new mayor following the election with current Mayor Michael Moore choosing to seek a council seat this time around. Seeking the mayor’s seat are current councillor Neil Nicholson and Donna Burns. The position of reeve has been changed to deputy mayor this time around and with Cathy Regier the only candidate, she has been acclaimed. Current council members, seeking reelection as councillors in addition to Moore, are Dave Mackay, Daryl McLaughlin and Chris Olmstead. Other names on the ballot for council are Mark Bell, Jim Butterworth, Joe Kowalski, Ronald Eldon, Kenneth Laronde, Connie Tabbert, and Joseph Trimm.
Everyone seeking a seat at the Town of Laurentian Hills’ council table has been acclaimed. Current Mayor John Reinwald did not seek reelection. Deputy Mayor and ward two representative Anne Giardini put her name forward for mayor and was acclaimed. Joining Giardini around the table will be Bruce Boucher (ward one), Gary McAnulty (ward two), Brenda Blimkie (ward three) and John Hoyle (ward four). Boucher, Blimkie and Hoyle are all current councilors in the township.
In the Town of Deep River, Suzanne D’Eon has been acclaimed as mayor. Vying for reeve are current Reeve Glenn Doncaster and Catherine Ryan. Seeking reelection to one of the five council seats are Will Fitton, Christina Louise Giardini, Kathy Hughes and Terry Myers. New names on the ballot for councilor are Tom Vaughan and Larry Dumoulin.
Up in the United Townships of Head Clara Maria, Debbi Grills and Robert Reid are running for mayor while Ernet Villeneuve, Chris Dowser, Rachel Richer, Fran Kelly-Chamberlain, Jim Gibson, and Karen LeClerc are running for council seats.
Current North Algona Wilberforce Mayor James Brose is seeking reelection and is being challenged by former mayor Deborah Farr. Four councillors will be elected and five are seeking those seats, namely Maria Robinson, Melvin Berndt, Janet Reiche-Schoenfeldt, Doug Buckwald and Kevin Clarke. Bonnechere Valley will see battles on all fronts with four candidates seeking to be mayor and 10 seeking the four council seats. Mayoral candidates are current Mayor Jennifer Murphy, Leanne Panke, Zig Mintha and Jackie Agnew. Councillor candidates are Kayla Desjardins, Merv Buckwald, Kimberly Lehman, Kelly Reinert (Lavigne), John Epps, Tim Schison, Jack Roesner, Shawn Henry, Tracey Sanderson and Brent Patrick.
Over in Killaloe Hagarty and Richards, Mayor Janice Tiedje is again seeking reelection and is being challenged by David Mayville. Vying to represent ward one are Ted Browne, Bil Smith and Mike Henry. Ward two candidates are Maureen MacMillan, Carl Kuehl and Dave King. Ward three candidates are Brian Pecoskie, Steven Boyle, Harold Lavigne and Jenna McRae.
There is a two-way battle for mayor in Madawaska Valley between Mark Willmer and Roger Prince. Seeking the four council seats are Helen Benn, Carl Bromwich, Joseph Olsheski, David Shulist, Mary Blank, Ernie Peplinski, Andrey Kaminski, Liz Woosey, Hanna Domagala and Shelley Maika.
Jack Kelly hopes to unseat Michael Donohue as mayor in Admaston Bromley. Kevin LeGris, Angela Field, Ken Keill, Keith Gourley, Brian Hamilton and Campbell Crogie are seeking one of the four available council positions.
In the Town of Renfrew, Peter Emon has again been acclaimed as reeve but five people are seeking to be mayor, namely Kathryn Windle, Michael Coulas, Sandi Heins, Tom Sidney and Callum Scott. In the Township of Horton, David Bennett returns as mayor, acclaimed to the positionBoth Lisa McGee and Mike Defalco are seeking to unseat Walter Stack as mayor of the Town of Arnprior while Daniel Lynch and Ron Demmers have registered as candidates to represent the municipality at county council. McNabb/Braeside sees a three-way contest for mayor between Tom Peckett, Mark Mackenzie and Oliver Jacob. Brian Armsden and Lori Hoddinott are both seeking the deputy mayor’s position.
The Municipality of Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan sees a three-way contest for mayor between Valerie Jahn, Rick Clements and Andrea Budarick. Greater Madawaska has four candidates looking to be mayor, Lucie Perrier, Debora Giffin, Jim Hemlin and Rob Weir.
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