Veterans, newbies eager to sign up for council run

Candidates vying for a shot to become a city councillor began signing up to compete for a seat Tuesday.

Many current councillors, and some new faces, took part in the first day of registration for the race to lead one of 15 wards.

St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes, River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow and Waverley West Coun. Janice Lukes have announced they will not run for re-election, creating a few wide-open races.

Georgina Sabesky, who registered to run in River Heights-Fort Garry, noted she has worked in the ward for 17 years as Orlikow’s executive assistant.

“I love doing that work in the community. I love helping people … seeing what they want to see in their community and then making it happen… I want to continue building our community,” she said.

Mayes spoke to media alongside current Louis Riel School Division ward 2 trustee Chris Sigurdson Tuesday, as the two men endorsed each other to swap political roles.

“I think it’s time to move on and move up to a different challenge,” said Sigurdson, of his bid to become a St. Vital city councillor as Mayes seeks the trustee spot.

Sigurdson, who is a lawyer, served 16 years as a school trustee. He said he’s prepared to wind down his practice, should he win a council seat.

He plans to push for the opening of a South Winnipeg police station, if elected.

“I think people would feel safer knowing that there’s a community police station in the actual area where they live,” he said.

Just before 5 p.m. Tuesday, couns. Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood), Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre), Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan), Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan), Matt Allard (St. Boniface) and Shawn Dobson (St. James), had all registered their re-election bids.

Couns. Vivian Santos (Point Douglas), Emma Durand-Wood (Elmwood-East Kildonan) and Ross Eadie (Mynarski) said they will register at a future date.

Couns. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) and Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River) did not respond Tuesday when asked about their political plans.

In April, Chambers told the Free Press he would run for re-election.

Abel Gutierrez (Elmwood-East Kildonan), Jeff Palmer (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), Harold Brazil (Mynarski), Tyler Andersen (North Kildonan), Sara MacArthur (River Heights-Fort Garry), Nicholas Douklias (St. Boniface), Kelly Ryback (St. James), Tyler Crichton (St. James), Chris Giesbrecht (Transcona), Shawn Nason (Transcona), Nathine Dagdick (Transcona) and Nafiya Naso (Waverley West) also registered to run for council seats.

Candidates can register until 4:30 p.m. Sept. 22 for the Oct. 28 election.

To appear on the ballot, all candidates must complete a nomination process.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga