Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 20, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Manitoba votes Winnipeg free press Friday october 20, 2006 a13 major changes ahead for East St. Paul municipality has More than its share of woes by Aldo Santin b ids Hill ? there probably in to another municipality in the province with a greater mess in its administrative office than the pm of East St. Paul. In the past year the municipality fired its police chief after a consultant revealed among other things that offi cers were routinely downloading porno graphic images onto computers at work the ramp and the Law enforcement review Agency have launched separate investigations into alleged officer mis conduct the province advised the pm to rewrite or withdraw its Long term development plan fearing it was Reck Lessly chasing residential development without ensuring it had water and sewer infrastructure in place to support it and Cao Jerome Mauws was fired this sum Mer during a special meeting in a 3-2 vote where the reasons for his dismissal have never been divulged. All the shenanigans occurred in an election year when an increasingly frustrated group of residents expects to hold accountable those they believe responsible. This is no longer a Little Rural Community where your biggest concern was cattle blocking the Road said former Transcona councillor Bernie Wolfe who has lived in the Birds Hill Community Ward profile for five years. I Hope people Are pay ing attention to what a happening. I Hope residents elect people with the skills and professionalism necessary to run a major operation like this Community has wednesdays election is going to pro Duce major changes on this Council. Reeve Phil Rebeck whose hands on approach to municipal politics shaped the municipality a reputation decided that after 25 years and at age 77, its time to retire from politics. Ward 3 councillor Tom Hallett an 11-year Veteran also decided not to run again. Long time councillors Lawrence Morris Ward 2 and Dave Gera Ward 4 Are giving up the Security of incumbency and squaring off for the position of Reeve. Incumbent Ward 1 councillor Mike was Lin first elected in 2002, is running again. East St. Paul is one of Manitoba a fastest growing municipalities. Wrongly believed by Many people to be a part of Winnipeg its 8,000 residents live in a 26?square-Kilometre area bounded by the red River to the West eastward beyond the flood Way Winnipeg to the South and the pm of St. Clements to the North. The once Rural Community on Winnipeg a northeastern Boundary has undergone a dramatic makeover Over the last few years agriculture has almost disappeared As a lifestyle and the pm is becoming a bedroom Community to Winnipeg with almost All new growth consisting of expensive Large lot residential development or seniors Condo minium housing residents Are becoming younger with growing families wage past year the police department and the chief Gera had opposed bringing in a earners Are principally commuting Caos dismissal. Gera lined up with consultant to review the police. Morris White Collar professionals. Rebeck and Hallett on key issues repeat said he opposed the firing of Mauws the pm councils embrace of the sub edly coming out on the winning Side of adding Rebeck Gera and Hallett never Urban lifestyle has bitterly divided the 3-2 votes against Morris and was Lin. Explained Why it was necessary at the Community where Many Long time res Morris 63, has served As the Ward 2 time and have refused to explain to this dents believe its Rural nature is being councillor for 11 years. He said the con Day. Supplanted by intense residential devel Trover sies of the past year have under Gera 59, has been on Council for 17 Ozment catering after Winnipeg com mined Public Confidence in the position years and said he a ready to assume the Muters looking to flee the City a High of Reeve and Council and he a running to top Post of Reeve and provide the com property taxes. Restore Public Trust in Council. Morris Unity the leadership it deserves. Gera and Morris found themselves on said that while Council was unanimous opposite sides of key issues during the in voting to replace the former police. no Lack of Competition for Springfield Reeves Job experienced councillor but was Only by Aldo Santin Ward profile elected in a 1999 by election. The remain ing four councillors have been rookies concern Over a Lack of planning and All elected in 2002. Springfield questionable spending priorities has Holland who never sat on Council prompted two former Veteran Council before his election to the top Post said lors to join a crowded race for Reeve of cil a seemingly Quick decision to buy the he does to understand Why his Chal the pm of Springfield. Former Dugald costume museum prop lengers keep raising Council spending Garry Brown and Don Matheson Are erty and redevelop it into the new munic As an Issue. Holland said Council Only familiar names in Springfield ? Brown pal office building. Spends according to its budget adding 57, was the councillor for the old Ward 6 while Council brought sewer and that the rms varied Reserve accounts disappeared when Ward boundaries re water services to the Anola area Many Are in a better situation than when he aligned for 19 years Between 1980 and said the Cost to residents is too High. First became Reeve eight years ago. 2002 Matheson 60, was the Ward 1 coun others complained about the location i be tried to dispel this about the Ocillor for 15 years from 1980 to 1995. Of the Anola area Well adjacent to a finances but it keeps coming Back and i both men said they re unhappy with sewage location and a former bulk fuel Don to know Why Holland said. An apparent Lack of Long term planning storage facility. There is concern water Shaver was first elected As the Ward 1 from Council and its spending habits. Will become contaminated. Councillor in 2002 but he Snow set his Money Oak Bank Resi sights on the top Job. Dents Are upset Shaver in to upset with what a been they re spending More Money than they re taking in Brown said when with the Lack of they re accomplished in the past four years. He explaining Why he wants to rejoin local recreational and spending said he wants to be Reeve because he can Community ser ensure things Are even better the next politics. More Money vices and have four years. I Don to know where they re spending All the Money Matheson said. Made noises that than they re All Council seats in Springfield Are Brown and Matheson Are joined by they should incur taking in being contested. Incumbents Bob Bod pirate into their Naruk Ward 1 and Karen Lalonde political newcomer Peter Skrupski 44, own municipality. Ward 2both first elected in 2002, face and current Ward 5 councillor Doug ? Reeve candidate inadequate single challengers. Paulishen in Ward 4 Shaver. They re going after Reeve John Garry Brown on drainage appears faces three challengers including for Holland 61. Councils perform to be a problem Mer councillor Ken Lucko who lost to Skrupski an Oak Bank resident is also Mance right across the him in 2002 when two wards were concerned about what he said is Spring pm and there merged into one and Craig Boitson who Field councils spendthrift ways Lack of Long term planning and a Lack of recce remains great apprehension Over the came within seven votes of defeating impacts of the widened red River flood Paulishen in the 1999 by election. Of Ideational and Community facilities in Oak Way. Candidates Are vying for shavers empty Bank. Springfield had a relatively inexpert Ward 5 seat. Two candidates Are going Springfield is a quiet sprawling Rural ended Council during the past four years. After the Ward 3 seat where Rookie Bob Community of about 14,000 residents on Reeve Holland ? who never sat on coun Osoway decided not to seek re election. Winnipeg a Eastern Side that includes cil before ? had the most political exp Oak Bank Dugald and Anola. Rienche first elected in 1998. Ward 4 questions have been raised Over coun councillor Bill Paulishen was the most. ;