Fort Simpson (Sep 19/03) - Fort Simpson's next mayor will be one who has held the job before.

Ray Michaud and Ron McCagg are opposing each other and incumbent Tom Wilson in the race for the mayor's seat on Oct. 20.

Michaud served as mayor from 1992-95 while McCagg led council from 1987-88.

McCagg said he has been encouraged to run by "a large segment of the business community tired of the example that has been created by the current council and mayor."

He said the way council has handled the taxi bylaw and the hiring of the returning officer has only resulted in citizens paying more.

The present council has also had its problems with protocol, according to McCagg. If he's elected he promises that a rule of order will be followed.

"You can be assured that I will not vote twice on any issue, ever," he said, noting that he's not in favour of filling vacant council seats by appointing by-election candidates who received only a few votes.

He added that the village still lacks a plan to look after its own needs.

McCagg said he has a proven track record, he keeps his word and he's diplomatic.

Michaud's motivation

Renewed talk of alternate island access has spurred Michaud's interest in running again. That was an issue that died on the table when he was mayor.

"That's why I resigned because the ratepayers voted against it," he said. "There's no place to grow without it."

Like many residents, Michaud said he wasn't pleased when water rates were hiked recently.

He's also taken a stance in the debate over village versus hamlet status. He pointed out that communities even larger than Fort Simpson are retaining their hamlet status for a reason.

"The government is doubling our water bills, our taxes are high. And then you go to a hamlet and they get the same services we do but they pay less for water and less for taxes," he contended. "If we have no place to grow, why be a tax base?"

Michaud maintained that voters will always know where he stands on an issue.

"I never sit on the fence... even if it's unpopular," he said.

Wilson's take

Asked for his opinion of the opposition, Mayor Tom Wilson replied, "All good men."

However, he said he deserves to be re-elected because he has done a good job. He cited the negotiated prevention of planned GNWT funding cuts to the village as one of the accomplishments made during his term.

He also pointed to the territorial government's gesture to pay off a village bank loan for the sewage treatment plant. That was also achieved through negotiation and it saved taxpayers more than $2 million in the long term, according to Wilson. He added that the savings allowed the village to complete the paving of the main street and lay sidewalks.

"The village is in a financially solvent position.

"We don't have a deficit," the mayor said.

On the ballot

for council (eight seats)

-Barb Moreau-Betsaka

-Debbie Chemerys

-Gerard Fradsham

-Andrew Gaule

-Kirby Groat

-Bob Hanna

-Betty Hardisty

-Dennis Nelner

-Norm Prevost

-Darlene Sibbeston

-Kim Squires

-Sean Whelly

-David Wright

For district education

authority (six seats)

-Kevin Allen

-Barb Moreau-Betsaka

-Cindy Browning

-Lisa Lafferty

-Martina Norwegian

-Pearl Norwegian

-Kim Squires

-Tammie Cazon-Squirrel

-Shane Thompson

-Connie Villeneuve