13 candidates file papers to run for Winnipeg council seats on 1st day of registration

Thirteen candidates who hope to representWinnipeg city council wards made their intentions official at the city clerk's office on Saturday, thefirst day candidates were able toregister their campaigns.

That allows them to raise and spend money in the hopes of landing a seat on council on Oct. 24.

Flanked by their kids, friends and spouses, the first group that registered Saturday morningincluded some new faces like Michael Thompson, who works at a security firm and is the director of the Iron Man Outdoor Curling Bonspiel.

He is one of four who registeredto run for the Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry ward that Coun. Jenny Gerbasi will leave open this fall after 20 years on council.

Past Manitoba Liberal Party president Peter Koromawas also among the first to register to run inthe ward.

Winnipeg School Division chair Sherri Rollins soon followed, filing her papers to register to run in the ward.

Harry Wolbertalso registered to run in Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry.

First-time city council candidate Nancy Cooke, who registered torun in theSt. Norbert-Seine Riverward,showedup outside city hall with a throng of supporters who held signs.

Cooke was a campaign director for the provincial Progressive Conservatives in 2015 and has taken a leave of absence from her work asspecial assistant to the minister of infrastructure.

TheSocial Planning Council's Josh Brandon is also making a council run, hoping to unseat incumbent Cindy Gilroy in the Daniel McIntyre ward, wherehe has long been an anti-poverty and community advocate.

Miah Sarowaralso registered to run inDaniel McIntyre.

Gilroy and several other incumbent candidates registered their campaigns Saturday, including Janice Lukes (South Winnipeg-St. Norbert), who registered her campaign in thenewly created Waverley West ward.

MattAllardwill seek re-electioninSt. Boniface, as will Brian Mayes in St. Vital.

The newly expanded St. James ward will see a race between two incumbent councillorsScott Gillingham(St.James-Brooklands)will face ShawnDobson, whosecurrent ward, St. Charles, willbe wiped off the electoral map in October due to boundary changes.

The 13 registered council candidates join seven candidates registered to run for mayor.

Registered candidates for council still need to secure 25 nominations from voters in the ward they hope to represent. Mayoral candidates require 250 signatures.

The registration period closes until Sept. 18at 4:30 p.m.

Here is the full list of candidates who had registered campaigns as of the end of day Saturday:

DANIEL MCINTYRE

• Josh Brandon.
• CindyGilroy.
• Miah Sarowar.

FORT ROUGE-EAST FORT GARRY

• Peter Koroma.
• Harry Wolbert.
• Sherri Rollins.
• Michael Thompson.

ST. BONIFACE

• Matt Allard.

ST. JAMES-BROOKLANDS

• Scott Gillingham.
• Shawn Dobson.

ST. NORBERT-SEINE RIVER

• Nancy Cooke.

ST. VITAL

• Brian Mayes.

WAVERLEY WEST

• Janice Lukes.