Labour Council backs Hobbs for mayor

The Thunder Bay and District Labour Council is backing Keith Hobbs for mayor.

The union-based organization on Saturday threw its support behind a total of 24 candidates running in the Oct. 25, municipal election, including 11 council hopefuls, six English Public board candidates and six seeking Catholic board trustee positions.

Hobbs earned the nod over Mayor Lynn Peterson, Coun. Frank Pullia, Colin Burridge, Jeff Irwin and Brian Kwasny.

In the at-large race, the TBDLC endorsed Gerald Graham, Sharon Ostberg, Lawrence Timko and Larry Hebert, the only sitting at-large councillor to get a nod of approval.

Westfort Coun. Joe Virdiramo and Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds are the only incumbents to draw favour in the ward races. Others backed include Terrence A. Yahn in McIntyre, Paul Pugh in McKellar, Don Sinclair in Neebing, David Polhill in Northwood and Jay Stapleton in Red River.

For the public school board the council chose Marg Arnone, Pat Johansen, Lori Lukinuk, Jack Playford, George Saarinen and Karen Wilson. On the Catholic board side Eleanor Ashe, Don Cattani, Jeff Howie, Donna Mahoney, Kathy O’Brien and Hanni Vale earned endorsements.

Melanie Kelso, president of the Thunder Bay and District Labour Council, said they will start their backing of their 24 chosen candidates as early as next week.

"We will be distributing endorsement cards to our 10,000 members, starting Oct. 4 until election day on Oct. 25," Kelso said in an email sent to local media.