Meadows-Waverly candidates facing off online

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This article was published 26/04/2021 (1978 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An online debate is being held Tuesday featuring both candidates vying for the Meadows-Waverly seat on Brandon City Council.

Candidates Sunday Frangi and Gordon McRae are both running for the ward in next week’s byelection.

The seat was recently vacated by John LoRegio, who held the position since 2013 and resigned in the midst of a cancer diagnosis to devote time to his health and family.

The debate will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. at bit.ly/2PmpziD and is being hosted by community steward, Family Visions Inc. executive director and past Brandon East Liberal candidate Kim Longstreet.

“Just because we’re in COVID doesn’t mean candidates can’t be put on the hot seat somehow,” she said. “I’d like the community to have information and to be aware and to make informed decisions, so it just felt right to do this.”

Longstreet hosted a similar online debate in advance of last year’s Brandon School Division board of trustees byelection.

Although called a “debate,” Longstreet said the event will be formatted more as a forum, during which candidates will be allowed a few minutes per question to respond, without the back-and-forth she describes as tending to comprise of “non-information.”

Both candidates will also be allowed five minutes at the start and end of the event to fill in gaps not covered by the eight questions post to them, and viewers will be able to ask questions at the end, time permitting.

Frangi said he’s looking forward to Tuesday’s event — an opportunity, he said, to learn about what his opponent has to say. McRae said he’s similarly enthusiastic to hear from others Tuesday, and hopes others follow suit.

“If you don’t hear what candidates are saying, you’re not going to know what you’re voting for,” he said.

Both candidates have taken to door knocking in recent days — at a physically safe distance — and dropping off campaign flyers along their way.

McRae said his platform has gradually evolved to accommodate what he has heard on the campaign trail.

People are interested in infrastructure, poverty, revitalizing downtown, flooding issues and are concerned about break-ins.

On the infrastructure front, McRae said people are concerned about the quality of sidewalks and roads.

Frangi reports hearing about drainage issues, traffic safety in front of Meadows School and the quality of sidewalks, which he has accommodated into his platform.

Campaigning in the midst of a pandemic is a “tough time,” he said, which makes Tuesday’s debate all the more important.

“I’m feeling pretty good because I’m doing the best I can, and the fact I’m getting feedback from residents and they’re calling — I like that,” he said. “I look forward to that.”

Frangi is a health-care worker by trade and last sought public office in the 2019 provincial election, when he ran as the Manitoba Liberal Party candidate for Brandon West — a constituency clinched by Progressive Conservative Reg Helwer.

McRae, who is currently employed in janitorial and sales positions, last ran for the Meadows-Waverly ward in the 2018 municipal election, when he was runner-up to LoRegio.

An advance poll will be held in the main foyer of Brandon City Hall from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Applications to vote by sealed envelope can be made by contacting the city’s senior election officials by email at brandonvotes@brandon.ca by Thursday and must be received by a election official no later than 8 p.m. May 5.

Election Day itself is May 5, with polling stations set up from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Richmond Park Church (1525 26th St.), First Baptist Church (3881 Park Ave.) and the Keystone Centre (1175 18th St. — a drive-thru location only at the southeast parking lot).

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

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB