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2010-09-07 at 13:26

Three file for election, speculation grows

By Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com

The municipal election slate is getting crowded.

Three more candidates have officially put their names in, and a longtime radio broadcaster has sent media an email indicating he plans to enter the at-large race, making it a 12-person challenge.

Gerald Graham, who hosted CBC Radio’s afternoon program Voyage North, is expected to file his papers later this week. The filing deadline is Friday at 2 p.m.

He’ll be joining Darren Roberts, who submitted his nomination papers on Tuesday.

Thunder Bay Community Foundation executive director Paul Wolfe, meanwhile, has thrown his hat into the Red River Ward fray, taking on incumbent Brian Mckinnon and newcomer Jay Stapleton.

In Westfort, Joe Virdiramo finally has some competition. John Radl filed his papers on Tuesday, making it a two-horse race.

Also on Tuesday, Coun. Frank Pullia said he plans to file later this week, but isn’t sure what he might be filing for, leading to speculation he may run for mayor, taking a second crack at Lynn Peterson, who handily beat him in 2003.

Also in the running are Keith Hobbs, Jeff Irwin and Brian Kwasny.

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Tbnewswatch.com(19)

Comments

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Rick says:
Now is the time for Frank Pullia to run for Mayor, if he does I believe he will win the election hands down.

He has the business and accounting experience that the city need in a mayor.

I say go for the gold Frank.!
9/7/2010 1:52:06 PM
george2000 says:
If Mr. Pullia is still mulling over his decision, it means to me that his decision will be in what is best for Frank and not what is best for T.Bay.

With Hobbs running a far stronger campaign than anyone dreamed possible, maybe Frank believes he can come up the middle and snatch the Mayor's chair away.

But Frank is far more popular as a councillor than he has ever been running for Mayor and this indecision on his part does not sit well with me.

And Frank is also part of this current council. It would be interesting to see how many times he voted differently than the Mayor.

Unless I actually hear something from the Mayor in the next six weeks, I know I am voting for change. The Mayor has been awfully silent on a number of issues leading up to an election.
9/7/2010 1:55:05 PM
advocate says:
After losing three or four times running for Mayor, it appeared that Frank realized that people prefer him as a Councillor.

I guess not.
9/7/2010 3:05:57 PM
Sandwiches1123 says:
Interesting choice to run by Gerald Graham. I'm looking forward to hearing/reading what his platform is. He must be displeased with the way council has run over the last 12 years. The most recent installment has been the most effective of the last three but improvements are still required. Furthermore, this council also spent quite a bit of money in their budget process, while green-lighting way too many projects/plans that administration put their support behind, without generating enough questions to make sure administration was doing their jobs.

I am not sure if I look forward to this upcoming campaign or not.
9/7/2010 3:10:18 PM
yqtyqt says:
Frank Pullia should be filing for an early exit. This "spend and tax" alderman, who previously announced he was going to look for a real job, was obviously not sucessful. The only reason that he could be returned is to suffer through another four years with little debt financing available and to pay for his irresponsible fiscal record.
9/7/2010 3:53:43 PM
TBDR says:
Well if he does go for the mayors post... its all the more reason to vote Hobbs! Didn't Pullia just put out a media release saying we should stay the course? Is he already contradicting himself???
9/7/2010 7:12:16 PM
TBDR says:
Hey Jim (I mean Rick), stop repeatedly liking your own post.
9/7/2010 7:25:03 PM
tsb says:
I hope Frank Pullia becomes mayor. It is my lifelong dream to work at a spaghetti factory!!!
9/7/2010 10:36:42 PM
worker1 says:
lol good one, tsb... frank pullia for mayor he isn't good for anything other then warming up the council seat.
There needs to be a change at city hall, enough of those jack-wagons who were there and want to come back. We need new people with new ideas.
9/7/2010 11:23:12 PM
molly says:
I believe if Pullia were to run for Mayor he would lose and most likely come in no better than 3rd place,leaving him the image as being unsucessful ,not the label that would benefit him in any way.
Most people are saying they want a change and a vote for a current member of this council as Mayor is no change at all
9/7/2010 11:26:10 PM
sam says:
Hobbs has a better chance of defeating Peterson if Pullia does not run. Looking back on the 2003 and 2006 elections Peterson got 26,000 votes both times or about 84% of the vote, that really is overwhelming. Obviously she has a very strong base so people not voting for her cannot be split.
9/8/2010 10:23:18 AM
Pullia4Mayor says:
I hope Frank runs, with tough financial decsions to be made, Frank's strong fiscal background will help our city through the tough and lean years ahead without raising taxes. Option 1 - Sell the city owned Golf Courses! Option 2 - take the hospital tax and lower taxes!
Let's make serious change, under Lynn's leaderhsip more then 10,000 people have left this city under her rien as Mayor. We have lost coutless jobs, mills and good paying jobs. Its time to make change we can trust.
With the Provincal Liberals on the edge of life and an election next Nov. We will more the defienatly see major cuts in spending by the next provicial gov't. This will impact our city and we will need tough decisions made by our next council. I hope we all take a serious look at who is running and who has experience in managing big money and make tough spending decisions. FRANK PULLIA FOR MAYOR of Thunder Bay! I sure hope he will run and I know it will make our city much stronger!
9/8/2010 11:08:34 AM
nvjgu says:
Im not an expert on the subject but we need new people running this town no more status quo or buisness as usual . Vote for change we need to get rid of all the regulars . Theres a need to get working people in there .
9/8/2010 11:17:53 AM
yqtyqt says:
I agree sam. One realistic opponent head to head would be better than two. It has crossed my mind that this is why he is considering this. In the past, he has mentioned that he will pack it in as a member of council (and wisely and thankfully so). But to throw a monkey wrench in the mayors race, he can ensure that hobbs votes will be split if he lets his name stand.

He's run in the past for mayor and not been successful. Why would this time be any different? Exactly, he just wants to make sure that the left wing politicians will return.
9/8/2010 11:44:06 AM
tudor says:
Frank, my suggestion to you, not that it matters, would be to stay where you are.

making this a three horse race will unlikely split Franks way. As for Peterson keeping that level of support, I don't think that is possible. There is a sense of anger in the community and the Mayor has been invisible on issues that are contentious.
9/8/2010 1:13:12 PM
captain says:
John Radl is a retired police officer.

Joe Virdiramo has been on the police services board for the past four years.

it seems there might be a strong difference of opinion on policing issues, crime and how things have been.

maybe with a little luck, this race will get the coverage it deserves because I know of John through some mutual people and from what they say, John will not hesitate to call it like it is.

I would love to see a debate between these two. Thank goodness someone is running here. The folks of Westfort should take a long hard look at this guy and see if they can agree with what he stands for.
9/8/2010 2:50:23 PM
worker1 says:
As far as i'm concerned Frank Pullia should bow out. He didn't work as councillor.
My vote is for Keith Hobbs, he's new to the policicial scense. From listening to him and seeing his head to head with police cheif. He's a man who can stand up for little guy.He speaks with passion,committment and genuine interest for this city. Thats what this city needs not anymore handshaking and wiping the hands off seconds later kind.
9/8/2010 4:50:39 PM
molly says:
On the draft a Mayor poll Hobbs received 646 votes,Peterson 168 votes, Boshcoff 274 votes (not running) Hebert 252 votes........Pulia 34 votes. Yes that was thirty four votes.
He finished dead last in this internet poll.
I hope he gets the message to avoid this split vote and an embarassing result
9/8/2010 11:47:37 PM
yqtyqt says:
Good posting worker1:

I wasn't big on Hobbs to start with. And I still have this question mark in my mind as to how he is going to get the out of control Police budget back to where it should be. How will he reconcile his allegiance to his old police buddies with fiscal responsibility.

But I think it's worth a try. Given the two other viable alternatives - Pullia and our current Mayor, I hope he gets in. With hank and some other new blood occupying the council chambers, maybe they can turn this train wreck around. If Pullia can't figure out what he wants to file for - maybe he should consider retirement.

I would like to see the following replaced - Peterson, Pullia, Angus, Ruberto. Tuchenhagen will be replaced by bowing out. The same old status quo isn't acceptable. One of the first chores on Councils agenda should be an administrative review. I can recall that Bruce Thom was brought in with a mandate. Downsize the organization and get rid of the dead wood amongst administration. I think it's time to clean house again. From the top down.
9/9/2010 12:15:50 PM
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