The deadline to file nomination packages for candidates planning on running in the upcoming municipal elections is just a few days away (Sept. 9) and Castlegar residents are beginning to get a look at the field of candidates hoping to find a seat on city council.
Mayor:
Sitting councilor Maria McFaddin has declared her intentions to run for mayor.
“I have spent the past few weeks in conversation, and thought over what would be the right decision for Castlegar going forward,” said McFaddin in her announcement. “I have considered the weight of the job, and I have come to the conclusion that I can not only do it, but I believe that I have a unique skill set that is needed at this time in Castlegar.”
McFaddin was first elected to council in 2018.
Former mayor Lawrence Chernoff has also entered the mayoral race. Chernoff was mayor from 2005 - 2018 and held a councl seat before that. He lost his seat and 2018 and also made an unsuccessful bid for mayor in the 2021 byelection called to fill the vacant mayor’s position after the resignation of Bruno Tassone.
Incumbent mayor Kirk Duff has announced he will not be running again due to health issues.
Council:
Councillor Sue Heaton-Sherstibitoff is running for a council seat. She has been on city council since 2011 and had been considering a run at mayor but says she thinks she can best serve the people of Castlegar by continuing on as a councillor.
“I am very proud of everything we have done, but there is still more work to do and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and continue to bring my advocacy for our community, decision-making skills, leadership, and experience to the table.
Cherryl MacLeod has been on council since 2018 and is running again.
“I’ve really enjoyed serving my community and being an integral part of moving us forward these last 4 years, but I don’t feel like my work is quite done yet,” said MacLeod when announcing her candidacy.
Incumbent Brian Bogle is running for council again. He was first elected in the 2021 byelection.
“The next four years will be important as we move forward to bring more housing to Castlegar, continue to focus on reliability of the airport, downtown revitalization plans, economic development, business attraction and retention as well as working with other levels of Government to get funding and medical services to help those in need,” says Bogle on his reasons for running again.
Former city councilor Florio Vassilakakis (2013-2021) is once again running for a council seat. Vassilakakis stepped down in 2021 to run for mayor in the byelection.
Vassilakakis said the decision as to whether to run for council or mayor was a difficult one.
“The last 18 months sitting on the sidelines has given me a different vantage point — one that has not only given me more clarity about the issues and who I am, but it has also reaffirmed the importance and priority of my young children and my wife Rebecca,” said Vassilakakis. “… I do believe that I have a lot more to accomplish with the rest of council and I am committed to the serving the public like I always have.”
Shirley Falstead has filed her official election papers. She unsuccessfully ran in the city’s 2021 byelection for a council seat.
Falstead says she believes she has a skill set that will help with the city’s housing shortage as will as economic development.
Sandy Bojecho is also running again for a council seat. She unsuccessfully ran in the 2021 byelection for a council seat.
Darcy Bell is the latest person to join the council race.
Current councillors Dan Rye and Bergen Price will not be running again.
The News has reached out for comments from all candidates and will update this story as they respond.
City of Castlegar voting
The nomination deadline is at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9.
City of Castlegar voters will have the option to request mail-in ballots. Mail ballots can be obtained by completing an application and submitting a signed copy by 4 p.m. on Sept. 23, 2022.
Advanced voting will take place on Oct. 5 and Oct. 12 between 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. at the Castlegar & District Recreation Complex (located at 2101 6th Avenue).
General voting day is Saturday, Oct. 15 from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. at the same location.
More election details including how to register to vote can be found at castlegar.ca.
Regional District of Central Kootenay:
Area I (Rural Castlegar): Andy Davidoff has been the Area I director for 11 years and will be running again.
“I am standing for reelection to continue being a strong advocate for enhancing the rural quality of life Area I residents have chosen in each of our distinct communities and to continue to ensure respectful and sustainable ‘neighbour-friendly’ development and land use,” said Davidoff.
Area J (Lower Arrow/Columbia): Kim Tassone and Henny Hanegraaf have filed nomination papers to run for the Area J director’s seat.
Castlegar News will continue to update this story as people continue to announce their candidacies.
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