Meet the people running for council in LaSalle

In the Town of LaSalle, 12people are running for 7spots on council: 1 mayor, 1 deputy mayor and 5 councillors.

• #WEvotes - CBC Windsor's municipal election coverage

For the mayoral race, video-journalist Meg Roberts made'player cards' for each candidate. She captured a photo of each candidate doing something familiar or fun to them, and asked them toanswerthree questions. Onecandidatechose to submittheir own image.

Reporter/editor Jonathan Pinto contacted candidates for the rest of council, asking them to submit a photo and respondto an email questionnaire.

Answers may have been edited for clarity or because they exceeded the character limit given.

Mayor | Deputy Mayor | Councillors

Mayor

There are 2people running for mayor.

Gary Baxter
Email | Website | Facebook

What is your top priority if elected?
We need to put LaSalle's fiscal house back in order. Overspending has led to a massive debt. A review of town operations to eliminate waste. A new balanced budget bylaw to restrict future overspending. Preparation for infrastructure repairs to avoid flooding and electrical brownouts.

Which council decision made last term would you change?
Removing financial information from the public agenda resulted in a lack of transparency. Loose spending has led to rising taxes which hurts residents on fixed incomes. Soaring debt will impair our ability to continue the great services we have all come to enjoy.

What is your favourite activity in your municipality?
What first comes to mind is the wonderful trail network throughout LaSalle. My wife Cheryl and I have had many opportunities to explore the connectivity of the trails. One of the greatest joys, outside of the obvious health benefits, is the opportunity to chat with residents.

Marc A. Bondy
Email | Website | Facebook | Twitter

What is your top priority if elected?
These are the issues brought to my attention by residents I would like to address: Maintain our high levels of service within our budgets, power outages, maintain our standardsof safety (local police).

Which council decision made last term would you change?
As a leader, I believe we cannot look back on council's decisions with regret, but learn from the past to improve our future.

What is your favourite activity in your municipality?
While driving around town, I enjoy sharing with others the improvements our town has experienced since I was a young boy raised on Malden Road. I am excited to continue with the path of progress as your mayor.

Deputy Mayor

The candidate for deputy mayor has been acclaimed.

Crystal Meloche
Email | Website | Facebook

Age: 38

Occupation:Director of Training, Recruiting & Marketing as well as Sales Rep. for Deebrook Realty Inc.

What is your most relevant experience for this position?
I was elected to council in 2010 and have now served two terms as Councillor in the Town of LaSalle.

What is the single biggest issue in your municipality?
Focus onour waterfront.Develop a marketing plan to revitalize Front Rd. encourage development and growth to attract new businesses not only to the Nautical Mile but throughout the townand create a climate where small businesses can prosper.

Councillors

There are 9 people running for 5 councillor positions.

Michael Akpata
Email | Website | Facebook | Twitter

Age: 50

Occupation:Team Lead Public Safety Investigations and Counterfraud IBM Security Canada

What is your most relevant experience for this position?
I worked as a municipal police officer for 21 years & have served on council for 4 years. As an Afghanistan veteran, my understanding of service has come from hands on experiences which guide my principles to serve the public & better our community.

What is the single biggest issue in your municipality?
Ensuring a sustainable and receptive environment for both residential and commercial building opportunities within the town will be required in order to attract and expand our tax base. The town must maintain an open for business posture to keep and maintain growth.

Adrien Bezaire
Email | Website | Facebook | Twitter

Age: 63

Occupation:Retired LaSalle Fire Service

What is your most relevant experience for this position?
I have worked for the Town of LaSalle for nearly 40 years in recreation and fire giving me intimate knowledge of town operations on the front lines. I also served 11 years as a school board trustee for the CSC Providence guiding the board and its budget in excess of $100 million.

What is the single biggest issue in your municipality?
In LaSalle, we have a great deal of development that has occurred and is ongoing and we need to thoroughly assess and upgrade our infrastructure to accommodate and prevent flooding for our residents and rectify existing problems in the Heritage Estates area.

Terry Burns
Email | Website

Age: 72

Occupation:Retiree

What is your most relevant experience for this position?
As a member of council for 24 years, I bring experience and executive ability to the voters of LaSalle. My leadership on many committees show that I know how to get things done in a positive way. $255,000 to various youth groups in our town.

What is the single biggest issue in your municipality?
Many voters say that they like living in a safe community with excellent services such as snow removal, police and fire services, waste removal, sidewalks, trails, and parks. I will represent the voters interests at budget sessions to ensure all are maintained.

Mark Carrick
Candidatedid not reply toCBCquestionnaire

Sue Desjarlais
Email | Website | Facebook

Age: 67

Occupation:Semi-retired. Retired from Bell after 35+ years as sales and client service / part-timeaccount administrator Brokerlink Insurance LaSalle

What is your most relevant experience for this position?
A three term councillor who is dedicated to making LaSalle a great community for people to live, work and play.

What is the single biggest issue in your municipality?
Our tax base is mostly residential, so keeping tax increases to a minimum without cutting services that our residents have come to rely on and responsible use of those tax dollars.

Russ Hazael
Email | Facebook

Age: 57

Occupation: Retired police officer, part time funeral assistant with Families First

What is your most relevant experience for this position?
I love helping and working for the people in my community. I began as a firefighter in 1981 & then a police officer from 19872011. A member of the LaSalle Accessibility Advisory Committee 2015 to present. I am proud to say that I'm a 3rd generation, lifelong resident of LaSalle.

What is the single biggest issue in your municipality?
We have a safe community with great park & trail systems. We need to keep the level of services that our residents have come to expect & at the same time keep a lid on our property taxes. We need to attract more business to the Town which in turn will help boost our tax base.

Jeff Renaud
Email | Website | Facebook | Twitter

Age:48

Occupation:Shipping/Receiving Clerk at Costco Wholesale

What is your most relevant experience for this position?
I am currently completing a 4 year term as councillor in the Town of LaSalle.

What is the single biggest issue in yourmunicipality?
Keeping LaSalle moving forward with their own identity in a fiscally responsible way.

Anita Riccio-Spagnuolo
Email | Website | Facebook

Age: 39

Occupation:Employed at Canadian Mental Health Association and Harmony In Action

What is your most relevant experience for this position?
My most relevant experience for councillor of the Town of LaSalle is non-profit work and community activism.

What is the single biggest issue in your municipality?
As a councillor for the Town of LaSalle I would like to bring fresh ideas, listen to all residents and act upon their responses by providing services that are relevant to them.

Sam Sleiman
Email| Facebook

Age: 49

Occupation:High School Administratorfor the Windsor Essex Catholic School Board

What is your most relevant experience for this position?
Over 20 years in education10 of which have been as a high school administrator. I also hold a degree in civil engineering.

What is the single biggest issue in yourmunicipality?
Our Front Road and Waterfront district has great potential as a family destination, and making smart decisions today will guarantee the evolution of a local social hub reinforcing community and building relationships.