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NB council race up to seven names as of Wednesday

There is still a week to go for nominations to be filed but as of press time on Wednesday there are seven names running in the North Battleford council race.
city hall pic

There is still a week to go for nominations to be filed but as of press time on Wednesday there are seven names running in the North Battleford council race.

The first to enter were school counsellor and swim coach Matthew Parker, incumbents Kent Lindgren and Kelli Hawtin, and former Battlefords Chamber of Commerce and Rotary president Warren Williams. Since then, three more have filed papers:

Dennis Mercer entered the race on Friday. According to his profile, he has devoted the past 20 years to teaching at John Paul II Collegiate, coaching high school sports and clubs, and sinking roots into the community for his family.

“Despite its rough reputation, I believe North Battleford is a great city to lay down roots, to grow and prosper, to raise a family. I am keenly interested in serving on council in support of this ideal.”

Clay Lazar has worked as a firefighter and paramedic in the community and has identified poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, crime and gangs as issues. On the city’s website he states that if elected “I will bring the focus on providing resources for these issues, so we can help and support the people that need it most. When the core of a community is stable, our community and people can prosper.”

George Plews works as a letter carrier for Canada Post and previously for Nav Canada as a Flight Service Specialist for 35 years. He has lived in North Battleford the last 30 years. According to his profile at the city’s website he says he would like the city to be more business friendly, says tax increases “have been reasonable and I hope they stay that way,” and wants to change the city’s image.

“North Battleford has been seen negatively in the media, and I want to change that.”

Six seats are available on North Battleford council. Nominations remain open until 4 p.m. on Oct. 7. The election is Nov. 9.