Municipal election musings
The people have spoken. Well, a mere 40 per cent of the eligible Sault Ste. Marie voters who bothered to cast ballots in Monday’s municipal election have spoken, that is.
Holes In The Polls. So much for the Soo Today polls that had challenger Joel Rowswell upending incumbent Mayor Matthew Shoemaker. Despite an impressive showing in which he garnered more than 10,350 votes, Rowswell lost to Shoemaker by about 2,000 votes. So, like him and his smirk or not — and I happen to think that Shoemaker is one of the least effective Mayors that Sault Ste. Marie has had in a long time– this is who the Sault has entrusted for another four years.
One And Done. Three incumbent councillors who had hoped to return for second terms were unceremoniously ousted. Sonny Spina was ushered to the outhouse by Ward One voters while Angela Caputo and Ron Zagordo were both denied re-entry in Ward Three. The outspoken Caputo — who seemed bent on getting her name in as many Soo Today articles as she could over the past four years — at least brought initiative and ideas to the table in her single term as a Ward Three councillor. As for Spina, any claim to fame was mostly lame.
Ward Three Glee. Ward Three voters, in sending both incumbents — Caputo and Zagordo — packing, now have Gary Trembinski Jr. and Luis Moreno as their fresh faced councillors.
Staying Alive In Ward Five. Despite an impressive challenge from the articulate, well prepared Martin Wyant, Corey Gardi and Matthew Scott both earned another term in Ward Five. Nothing against either Gardi or Scott but Wyant came across as an extremely caring and intelligent individual who only wants what is best for his beleaguered hometown. Hopefully we have not heard the last from Wyant in some difference-making capacity, whatever that might be.
Four More For Dufour. Cool hand Luke Dufour is again being counted on to have a voice in Ward Two, which encompasses the downtown area. Dufour was elected to a third four-year term by Ward Two voters. Dufour, by the way, is an example of steely resolve. Before first being elected eight years ago, he twice lost bids to become a city councillor.
