Councillors Cameron, Frangi to run again

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This article was published 23/02/2022 (1674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayor Rick Chrest’s decision not to run for re-election this fall will lead to a shakeup on Brandon City Council, but at least two councillors are hoping to maintain a presence.

In October, Manitobans will go to the polls to elect new mayors, councillors and school trustees for their municipalities for the first time since 2018.

With election day approximately eight months away, the Sun reached out to members of Brandon City Council to ask incumbents if they’re intending to run again.

Most councillors said they’re still mulling over their decision at this point, but a pair plan to appear on the ballot in some form.

The incumbent in the University ward, Coun. Shaun Cameron, is hoping his constituents will elect him to a second term. It’s a decision he came to with the help of his family, who he said play a big role in his ability to serve the public.

After Chrest announced his intent to retire from politics at the end of his term, Cameron said he received calls and emails from residents in support of a potential mayoral run.

While he said it’s no secret that he wants to be mayor one day, at this point Cameron wants to be re-elected to his current position.

“It’s support from the residents and working with the residents,” Cameron said was his favourite part of his first term in office. “We have a lot of council that is outward strategic planning, but one of the things I’ve probably enjoyed the most is getting to know the folks in the neighbourhood and hopefully helping them with whatever needs that come forward. I think it’s important that first and foremost, we’re advocates on their behalf.”

Though the pandemic has sidelined some of council’s objectives and projects, the councillor said he was proud of the leadership he and his colleagues have shown.

He’s also proud of improvements council has made to local infrastructure, like the $125-million water treatment plant upgrade project, moving the outdoor sports complex and getting traffic improvements in his ward like at the intersection of McDiarmid Drive and Victoria Avenue.

If he gets another term, Cameron wants to move forward with projects like installing lights on the city’s walking paths, enhancing flood mitigation and improving back lanes and dust control.

Brandon’s first-ever Black councillor, Sunday Frangi (Meadows-Waverly) also intends on being on the ballot this fall.

He was first elected to council last year in a byelection to replace John LoRegio, who retired after the 2021 budget deliberations to focus on his health.

“When I joined council, it wasn’t just for a short period of time,” Frangi said in a phone interview. “My intention was to be there and continue to serve our community … as you know, I got in during the middle of a council term, so now in this coming election, it’ll give me — if the people decide to re-elect me — a full four-year term to continue serving, to continue working on the things that need changing.”

Asked if he had considered running for mayor following Chrest’s announcement, Frangi said he has been considering his options but hasn’t come to a decision. However, he said he would be on the ballot one way or another come October.

As for what he wants to continue to work on, he highlighted safety and downtown issues. During budget deliberations, he took a step toward the former when he successfully pushed through a city program to subsidize the installation of security lighting for back lanes.

“We’re having a lot of discussion surrounding the revitalization of downtown right now and how that will come to pass,” Frangi said. “My vision for downtown is maybe a little bit different from other councillors’ visions. Providing safety in downtown will encourage small businesses to come back.”

He also wants to improve downtown infrastructure, which he thinks will bring students back to the area.

Brandon residents will have the chance to go to the polls on Oct. 26.

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