Chartier makes Green Acres a two-way race

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This article was published 11/07/2022 (1324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A battle with cancer thwarted Franco Chartier’s last opportunity to run for Brandon City Council, and he’s not going to pass up his chance this year.

On Monday, the nurse’s aide at Brandon Regional Health Centre told the Sun he’s in good shape this time around and ready to enter the race to represent the Green Acres ward.

Though he currently works nights, Chartier said his retirement from that job is coming up on Jan. 2 and will give him more time to focus on his duties if elected.

After local realtor Tyson Tame announced his candidacy for the same ward last week and Coun. Jan Chaboyer revealed her intentions to retire as the ward’s representative last month, it sets up the first contested race in this year’s municipal elections without an incumbent present.

Chartier said he has already contacted Tame — a friend of his — and the two have agreed to have a friendly, respectful competition.

“Whoever pounds the pavement most is going to win,” Chartier said.

Fellow realtor Quentin Derhak is running in the Victoria ward, setting up a battle against incumbent Coun. Barry Cullen.

According to Chartier, he was encouraged by former Green Acres councillor Don Jessiman to run in previous years and decided to put his name forward after he heard of Chaboyer’s intention to retire.

As a resident of the ward for the last 15 years, Chartier said he knows from experience that infrastructure and safety are two areas where residents want to see improvements.

After heavy rains in late June and early July 2020 exposed drainage issues in the ward, he said he contacted the mayor to advocate for a closer eye to be kept on the neighbourhood and encourage regular cleaning of drainage basins.

He also wants better care for the trees in the ward. There are branches obscuring the area above sidewalks and there are roots causing havoc on the sidewalks from below, he said.

“Green Acres is such a beautiful part of Brandon,” he said. “It’s one of the oldest spots in Brandon. It’s got those beautiful, mature trees. We want to preserve those, but they also need to be fixed.”

Another concern is safety. He said he believes that trucks travelling along Park Avenue at speed are taking a toll on roads and posing a danger to pedestrians. As a former truck driver with Gardewine before he entered the health-care field, Chartier said he knows exactly what those vehicles are doing to the roads.

On Park Avenue, he doesn’t think there are enough crosswalks for pedestrians.

With the back lanes in the ward, Chartier said there has been an issue with theft. He said most residents have their back gates padlocked shut, but those locks routinely get cut — including his.

He said he believes that a program to subsidize the installation of security lights in the back lane, championed by Coun. Sunday Frangi (Meadows-Waverly) at this year’s budget deliberations, would be a step toward improving the situation.

Asked if he thought city council could improve on anything heading into its next term, Chartier said the current council has done a good job, but he’d like to see a greater emphasis on transparency.

So far, besides Cullen, councillors Shaun Cameron (University), Sunday Frangi (Meadows-Waverly), Bruce Luebke (South Centre), Kris Desjarlais (Rosser) and Glen Parker (Riverview) have announced their intentions to run for another term while Chaboyer and Mayor Rick Chrest plan to retire from politics.

Coun. Jeff Fawcett (Assiniboine) is running again, but is vying for the vacant mayor’s chair.

Chartier said he’s glad Fawcett is running for mayor given his experience and is hoping the three-term councillor becomes the next mayor.

Election day is Oct. 26.

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