Meadows-Waverly byelection candidates announced

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/04/2021 (1855 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Next month’s Meadows-Waverly byelection is the second kick of the can for both candidates vying to represent the ward on Brandon City Council.

Gordon McRae last ran for election in the City of Brandon ward during the 2018 municipal election, when he was runner-up to incumbent John LoRegio in Meadows-Waverly.

Sunday Frangi last sought public office in the 2019 provincial election, when he ran as the Manitoba Liberals’ candidate for Brandon West — a constituency clinched by Progressive Conservative Reg Helwer.

LoRegio, who has represented Meadows-Waverly since 2013, resigned from the position earlier this year. In the midst of battling multiple myeloma, he said he was no longer able to devote his full attention to council matters.

When the pandemic is over, he said he intends to spend more time with family and visit his grandchildren on Vancouver Island.

Vying again for LoRegio’s vacated spot on council, McRae said he planned on rehashing much of his platform from 2018, since his goal of tackling the myriad issue surrounding the city’s most vulnerable people remains at the front of his mind.

For Frangi, shifting from provincial to municipal politics will allow him the opportunity to work closer to the ground on issues affecting the community.

Neither candidate currently lives in the ward, but both have in the recent past and still call Brandon home.

The following is what the candidates had to say when contacted yesterday.

 

SUNDAY FRANGI

Ward-specific issues join an eclectic range of city-wide concerns in inspiring Sunday Frangi to seek the Meadows-Waverly seat with Brandon City Council.

Drainage issues are among the city-wide problems he intends to focus on, which affect much of Brandon but hit Meadows-Waverly disproportionately hard last summer.

Poor sidewalk repair and speeding in school zones are among other chief concerns he’s heard expressed by residents and which he intends to raise if elected.

Born in Sudan, Frangi relocated to Canada 17 years ago, spending most of his time in Winnipeg before shifting to Brandon three years ago. He was in search of change and quickly learned Brandon offers more of the community atmosphere he sought.

“We have a beautiful community,” he said. “It’s something that we should always be proud of.”

A health-care worker by trade at the Brandon Regional Health Centre, Frangi has also been involved with the Brandon and District Labour Council.

In addition to infrastructure concerns, the city-wide issue of crime and drugs is highlighted in Frangi’s campaign.

“Those are things as a community we need to talk about … and find workable solutions,” he said.

Brandon Police Service is doing “a tremendous job,” he said, adding, “They need the full support from city council.”

The Brandon Downtown Development Corporation should join the municipality in coming up with plans to address safety concerns, he said.

“Something needs to be done (downtown), and if I get into city council, those are the things I want to talk about and bring to the table and share with council members.”

Frangi said his presence on Brandon City Council would usher in greater diversity around council chambers.

“At this time, Brandon is struggling with the, let me be honest, with the inclusivity … in our government institution,” he said. “I come from under-represented communities, and inclusivity is something we need to see in our local government.”

Frangi said his campaign will begin in earnest after the long weekend and will consist mainly of door-knocking.

“It’s a different time for a campaign, but we’re going to get through it.”

 

GORDON MCRAE

Gordon McRae’s campaign for Meadows-Waverly is fairly close to the one he outlined during his 2018 bid.

“A lot of it had to do with ongoing poverty and increasing drugs and crime and a lot of problems even with infrastructure — fixing roads and sidewalks,” he said, adding his platform is pretty much unchanged because “nothing has truly improved.”

“I believe we should be looking more into policies or putting more money into affordable housing and bringing more jobs into the city.”

Currently employed in janitorial and sales positions, McRae said he has spent his life in poverty and continues living paycheque to paycheque.

“I’ve basically grown up around a lot of the poorer areas, or some of the worse-off areas in the city,” he said, adding he has lived in Brandon for more than 20 years.

This real-world experience should be of benefit around council chambers, he said.

“I’d be able to use more examples on what’s going on in the city or pointing out where certain situations are and what needs to be corrected.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting countless people’s finances, he said his platform might resonate better with voters this time around.

“I’ve been speaking to people — a lot of people have been bringing up improving infrastructure and going back to work and trying to live paycheque to paycheque,” he said.

“I think the police, council, and even the community themselves could do a little more in getting information out or getting people in a better position where they can go to rehab and get away from the drugs themselves.”

McRae’s campaign will consist of door knocking “in a safe and distant manner,” as well as an in-person meet and greet, if possible — probably outdoors.

 

ELECTION DETAILS

Advance polling will be held on April 29 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the main foyer of Brandon City Hall.

Mail-in ballots can be obtained by contacting the city’s senior elections official by emailing brandonvotes@brandon.ca

On election day — May 5 — polling places will include First Baptist Church at 3881 Park Avenue, Richmond Park Church at 1525 26th Street and at the Keystone Centre (drive-thru only).

Voters must bring one piece of government-issued photo ID or at least two other documents that provide proof of identity and residency in the Meadows-Waverly ward.

People who are not on the voters list can still vote as long as they produce the proper ID and sign an affidavit declaring their eligibility.

Masks will be mandatory at all polling places.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com, with files by Colin Slark

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB