Thirty-one candidates vie for Queens County elections

Twenty-four residents are vying for Region of Queens Municipal Council in nine districts while seven are running in three districts for local seats on the South Shore Regional School Board.

The election is Oct. 18 with advance polls on Oct. 9 and Oct. 14. All three dates with times will be well advertised.

Mayor John Leefe is returning by acclamation for a third term as a representative of the county as a whole.

Counc. Darlene Norman and Deputy Mayor Douglas Adam will also be acclaimed in District 1 and District 8 respectively.

Mayor Leefe says the number of and people who are running excite him. “It’s a bumper crop. I think it speaks well of the democratic spirit here in the Region of Queens that so many people wish to serve on both council and school board. Excellent people are stepping forward and the public has difficult decisions to make. I attended both (potential candidates and candidates) meetings and you get the sense all the people involved are excited and enthused about what’s going on in the Region of Queens and are anxious to be apart of it.”

In District 2, Charles (Bucky) Norman, Sheldon Brannen, Laurie Lethbridge, and former Town of Liverpool Mayor Ron Lane are hoping to replace Counc. Wayne Henley, who is now the provincial Liberal candidate.

In District 3, Mark Whynot and Owen Hamlin are hoping to unseat the incumbent, Brian MacDougall.

The race for District 4, with Bruce Inglis, incumbent, Susan MacLeod and Cameron (Camie) Crowell, is widely expected to be tight.

Joanne Acocella, Eleanor Reid and incumbent, Mervin Hartlen are hitting the pavement in District 5.

Counc. Gene (Geno) Wong isn’t reoffering in District 6. Instead, this race involves four residents: Gary Levy, Stephanie Rhodenizer, Francis, Jack Thistle, and Randi Dickie.

The large vacuum caused by the retirement of long-time, well-respected representative, Counc. Freeman Evans in District 7 has resulted in another good race. Dwight Crouse, John Frank Croft, and Rhonda S. Perry are vying for the seat.

In District 9, incumbent, Peter Waterman and Suzanne Frail are going head to head.

Donna Wamboldt and Allan Foster are competing in South Shore School Board District 1.

In District 2, Karen D. McLeod, Clifford (Butch) MacLeod and incumbent, Annette Hartlen are running for the seat, previously held by Edie Whitty.

Incumbent Elliott Payzant is facing Wayne Wentzell in District 3.