LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Fort Simpson won't be electing its next village government until the fall, but a number of council members have already decided whether their name will be on the October ballot.

Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly plans to run again with goals of a new fitness centre, more paved roads, improved quality of life. - NNSL file photo

Two-term Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly will be seeking re-election, while Leah Keats and long-serving Coun. Ron McCagg have decided not to seek re-election.

McCagg, however, will be looking to represent residents on a larger stage as he plans to run for MLA in this year's territorial election.

"I've spoken to quite a number of people and their is a desire there," McCagg said. "It's time I should go out into the communities to find out what their issues are so I can develop a platform."

McCagg would likely be running for the riding of Nahendeh, challenging incumbent Kevin Menicoche for the seat in November.

Tom Wilson, who has sat as councillor and mayor in Fort Simpson for an astounding nine terms will look to make it a 10th when residents cast their ballots in the fall. Wilson was first elected to office in the 1988 municipal election.

Whelly said he plans to offer his commitment and experience once again, hoping to continue with the vision he has and complete a number of projects he thinks will improve the quality of life for residents.

"There are still many things that can be done to make our community better," he said. Some of |

these include a new fitness centre, more paved roads, new

Village offices and improved recreational programming.

He said it is important for all residents that the local municipal government continues to find ways to improve services while keeping costs down. At the same time, he added, resources and investments must be put into the community that will improve the overall quality of life in Fort Simpson.

Coun. Bob Hanna who has been on council for nearly two decades hasn't decided if he will run again, and said he's not willing to make a solid commitment yet. Before the October election, Hanna said he wants to see the library finished and focus on village infrastructure in need of repair, however, he said the financial future of the village and tight fiscal restraint make that challenging.

"We're not sure how the finances stack up, and we have lots of unknowns at this point," he said. "I don't think the territorial government knows where it's going and we rely on them a lot because they are part of the money flow. They keep telling us we have to do more with less and that's not always possible.

The safety and security of residents is what Wilson has shaped his time on council around, and wants to continue forward with improving on a number of aspects of the village.

"Many people go to the store and they don't have to lock their doors and that's the kind of community I want to continue to see," he said, adding he'd like to get answers on the village health centre and riverbank erosion from the territorial government before the end of the term in October. "I don't want to lose (the health centre); if they can't decide on a place to put it, we just might. We want it to be close to the centre of town. It's not just for the people of Fort Simpson, but it's important to the whole region.

The river bank, he added, is a costly project, pegged at approximately $16 million and coming up with the money is a big issue.

"We need to get the territorial government to help or we're going to face serious issues in the future," he said.

First-term Coun. Larry Campbell told the Deh Cho Drum the experience has been good and he plans to have his name on the October ballot. However, prior to seeking re-election, Campbell said he'd like to see a number of issues and projects resolved before then.

"I'd like to get a permanent (senior administrative officer) at this point and hopefully in the next couple months," he said. "We just need to clean up the projects we have had over the last couple of years, the sewer and water plant, and the fire hall we're hoping to have by summertime. These are important and we need to get those out of the way."

He said once these two projects are completed, he'd like to see the village focus on roads, adding improvements have been put aside because of other projects.

Long-time councillor and former mayor McCagg said he plans to hang up his political gloves after nearly two decades involved in municipal politics in Fort Simpson, while first-time Coun. Leah Keats said while her time on council has been a good experience, she has no plans to run again.

"I cannot see myself as a career politician," she said.

Marie Lafferty told the Deh Cho Drum she hasn't given much thought yet to whether she will run again in October and plans to take the pulse of the community - if she finds support, she may throw her hat in the ring.

"I don't know at this point," she said. "We will see. If people want me to run, I'd do it again. I really couldn't say at this time."

Stella Nadia, who is also deputy mayor said she has unfinished business and projects she wants to see completed and will definitely be running again in October.

"The passion is there and I have unfinished business and projects I've started and I want to see them get through," she said.

One of the major projects she wants to see happen is a full retrofit of the community centre, which hasn't had any major upgrades done to it since the 1990s.

"It's just been band-aid solutions to the problems," she said. "What was good at the time is not good now and we need to come up with something better."

Renalyn Pascua-Matte was out of town at press time and unavailable for comment on whether she will be running again for a council seat.

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