Get to know your candidates!

Here’s who is running for Ward Four in this year’s municipal elections.

Ward Four Candidates:

Marchy Bruni

Bio:

Why are you running?

I believe there are many challenges in the city and I think we need to continue growing. We need to invest in tax payers’ money wisely and take care of our people. I’m not looking for a career in politics, but a role as progression from community involvement. I think it’s important to continue to play a positive role in strengthening the city.

What are the issues that you care about?

Downtown development/revitalizing the downtown – This issue is in works with this council more than previous ones

Partnering with Economic Development Centre, Innvovation Centre, Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, and with other partners to give youth the opportunity to stay in the Sault

I sit on finance committee – I want to improve effective and efficient operations so we are receiving the best possible tax dollars we can

Continue working relationships with Essar, Port Algoma and the Farachrome smelter plant

Tax rates for commercial and industrial as well as residential and multi-residential

Continue supporting boards and committees I sit on – my attendance is almost perfect

Improve roads and snow removal program – council receives many emails and phone calls about this. I think they need to set more money aside with out affecting tax payers

Keep taxes as low as possible

What strengths do you bring to the campaign/city council?

I’m a good team player – I like to work with all councillors. Working together is my slogan. More can be accomplished than if we don’t work together.

Tim Marsh

Bio:



I was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie. I am a graduate of the Hotel and Resort Management program at Sault College and I also did a year and a half of the SSW course. Because of that, I have an enormous amount of respect for those in those types of fields.

I have been in the hospitality/ food&beverage industry for 15 years with approximately eight years of that being management experience.

Why are you running?

This community has given everything to me and I feel it’s my time to start giving back and getting involved.

What are the issues that you care about?

Maintaining this city & creating a community people are proud to call home is my number one goal. Whatever issues stand in the way of that happening are the issues I am passionate about.

What strengths do you bring to the campaign/city council?

Everyone knows I’m a worker. I work hard for the people I care about; and I care about this city and the people in it. Allow me to work hard for you; with you. No longer can attendance be good enough, we need leaders who are willing to put in the effort that it takes to run this city.

Sara McCleary

Bio:

On the more personal side of things, I’m married, a mother of two young kids (5 & 3) – who will be joining me on the campaign trail most nights!

I earned my BA in History from Algoma University, then went on to complete an MA in History from Queen’s University. I’ve also completed a Business Foundations Certificate from Sault College.

I volunteer with a number of organizations, including Refugee705 and La’ad Canada, and started my own nonprofit, We’ve Got This, aimed at eliminating the stigma surrounding addictions and mental illness.

I’m a reporter at Sault This Week as well as the Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator at St Vincent Place.

Why are you running?

I’m running for one very simple reason: I care about the Sault. I want the Sault to be a great place to live and raise a family, to be a city people are happy about living in. There’s no question that the Sault’s going through some hard times right now in certain areas, and I want to bring my experiences and my ideas to the table to help get the city back on track.

What are the issues that you care about?

To be honest, there are quite a few issues that I’m passionate about but the issue at the forefront is our youth outmigration rates. We’re losing far too many young people, and we need to shake things up in a very real way to convince them to stay here – and to try to bring some back. Ultimately, that comes down to making the Sault a place people want to live – develop an effective transit system, get a youth centre set up, help our downtown thrive, take a look at how environmentally-friendly (or not) the city is… to name just a few of the issues we need to address.

What are the strengths that you bring to the campaign/council?

I think my greatest strength is the amount of energy and passion I bring to the election. I’m genuinely excited at the prospect of going door-to-door to talk with the residents of Ward 4 and hear about their lives and what they’d like to see change in town. That being said, being a local reporter, I’ve already had a lot of people reaching out to me over the last few years about the issues they’re seeing and what they’d like to see addressed, so I also bring an understanding of what has been on people’s minds.

Rick Niro

Bio:

I was first elected to City Council in November of 1988. Term of Council then was three years. Residents in Ward 4 re-elected me three more terms making me their representative for twelve years.

In 1996 I secured a job with G&K Services Canada Inc. as Plant Manager, and in the year 2000, I chose not to seek re-election because of the new job responsibilities.

After an absence from Municipal Politics for ten years, I decided that I wanted to return to City Council and once again represent the constituents of Ward 4.

In October of 2010, the voters of Ward 4 returned me to City Council as their representative, and subsequently re-elected me to City Council again in October of 2014.

At the end of this present term, with 20 years on Council, I am able to continue to provide experienced representation in a professional and ethical manner.

I was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie and I have lived in Ward 4 for most of my life. For the years I did not live in Ward 4, I lived in Ward 5, which is, in part, part of the new Ward 4.

I am married to Pauline Niro and we have 3 children who have given us 5 grandchildren.

Why are you running?

With twenty years on Council I am experienced and knowledgeable with the concerns and issues of Ward 4 and the City as a whole.

I know what we in my age group are concerned about. I know what it feels like to be concerned about paying a mortgage. I know what my children who are supporting their own families are concerned about. I have the same concerns as those who have grandchildren, about my grandchildren. What shape will this City be in when it is time for them to go out and find a job.

That is why I am running for Council. I want to continue to work hard at being a Councillor. I want to continue to work hard at helping people find solutions to their problems. I want to continue being involved in making decisions toward the betterment of Sault Ste. Marie. I want to be re-elected so that I can continue to be part of the team that continues to move this City forward.

What are the issues that you care about?

I remain committed to supporting environmental issues. We need to continue to demonstrate fiscal responsibility so that taxes are not a burden. We need to continue to provide necessary services in the most efficient way. We need to promote Sault Ste. Marie positively and optimistically. We need to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Sault Ste. Marie, and we need to strive for progressive growth.

What strengths do you bring to the campaign/city council?

Twenty years on Council, and nineteen years as a Plant Manager has given me the background to deal with budgets, to ensure we are as efficient as possible, and controlling tax increases.