Ward 1 finally has a candidate

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This article was published 02/09/2022 (1269 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With no one registered to run in Ward 1 for this fall’s municipal election, a Ward 10 candidate is switching things up to ensure those residents have a voice on city council.

Kevin Chambers told the Sun Thursday that he had officially changed his candidate registration paperwork that morning to run in what is currently known as Assiniboine Ward and is being renamed Ward 1 for the election.

His signs could already be seen along Kirkcaldy and Conservation drives early Thursday afternoon.

The most recent list of candidates provided by the city on Monday recorded candidates in every ward in the city except for Ward 1. Its incumbent, Coun. Jeff Fawcett, is currently Brandon’s only registered mayoral candidate.

Updated lists of candidates are typically provided by the city on Fridays.

With no registered competitors, Chambers emphasized his decision wasn’t borne out of opportunism. While other wards were enjoying a bit of healthy competition, Ward 1 was left sitting empty.

“A lot of people were saying they enjoyed the competition [in Green Acres/Ward 10], they enjoyed the prospect of having a candidates’ debate … but at the same time, why was nobody in Ward 1?”

He said to move forward with a vision for the city’s future, all parts of Brandon need to be represented at council.

Though he’s not endorsing either of his former rivals in Ward 10 — Franco Chartier and Tyson Tame — he said the people who live in the area will be well served by whoever wins the election.

“The reason I could leave Ward 10 is that I felt both the candidates were equally qualified and just be the best voice they could be for Green Acres,” he said. “I wish them both luck.”

Though he doesn’t live north of the Assiniboine River, which serves as the ward’s southern boundary, he said he knows lots of people in the ward and understands a lot of the issues it’s facing.

He also said he’s not afraid of competition should others join the race and is hoping that it happens to spur some healthy conversation.

One of the biggest issues facing the ward, he said, is the future of the Sportsplex. Though the YMCA also has an indoor pool, Chambers said it is important for residents to have access to a public indoor swimming facility and one capable of holding competitions.

However, parts of the Sportsplex have aged poorly, and need frequent repairs and updates to make it more accessible. If the costs to repair the aging facility keep climbing, he believes it should be rethought.

On traffic safety, which has been a concern for residents on 18th Street, Kirkcaldy Drive and Braecrest Drive, he said it’s going to be an “all hands on deck” solution that finds a balance between progress and keeping neighbourhoods safe.

In an interview last week, Fawcett expressed surprise that no one had registered to run yet in his soon to be former ward.

The most important thing when representing the ward, Fawcett said, is working hard to listen to residents’ concerns.

He said he expects traffic, housing development and drainage issues to be important files for whomever takes over the ward.

“Know your neighbourhoods, know your residents,” he said.

Tame said it’s too bad the residents of Ward 10 will have one fewer choice in the election but wishes Chambers the best.

In his campaigning, he said he visited more than half the homes in Ward 10 so far and has been taking notes at every door.

“I’ve loved every minute of it, I’ve had so many great conversations with people,” he said. “I’ve learned so much.”

The issues Chartier said he has heard a lot about during his campaigning entail safety and drainage — especially after the short but severe rainstorm Brandon received early last week.

“I’ve been walking around clearing basins because I knew the rain was coming,” he said. “I actually have it all on video when the rain came and how fast it took to overload those basins.”

Election day is Oct. 26.

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