Here are profiles of 10 of the 11:
Susan Creelman
Age: 54
Occupation: Bank manager
Hobbies: curling, walking, golf, knitting
Communty involvement: Served on various committees and boards such as South Colchester Development Agency, Stewiacke School Advisory Council, Site Selection Committee for the Winding River Elementary, United Way, Colchester Regional Hospital Foundation and Truro Curling Club
Main issues: I see Stewiacke as a place poised for growth. As the corridor from Halifax to Moncton grows and expands, more opportunities will come our way. It is important to have infrastructure and financial stability in place to be able to accept the growth, and truly benefit from it.
Why you'd make a good candidate: I grew up in a family where we were taught how important community involvement is. My education, work life and previous participation with various committees, boards and clubs have provided me with valuable experience - experience that I want to put to work for the town.
Debbie Frizzell
Age: 53
Family: Husband John, two children and numerous grandchildren
Occupation: employed with Worldwide Flight Service at the airport
Hobbies: Scrapbooking, reading, watching movies with my granddaughter, playing in my Church dinner theatre each year
Community involvement: Has been on town council for nine years and served on many committees, such as the library board, CoRDA, bylaw and policy, planning advisory and Town Days
Main issues: Banking, affordable housing and finishing the infrastructure
Why you'd make a good candidate: I am very proud of our town and work hard to make Stewiacke a good place to live, work and raise a family
Chester Thomas Gourley
Age: 36
Family: Wife Georgina and two children, Ava, 4, and Isaac, 9 weeks
Occupation: Superintendent at Fox Hollow Golf Course in Stewiacke
Hobbies: Golfing and hunting
Community involvement: Member of both the Town Days Committee and the Business and Tourism Association
Main Issues: Creation of jobs, developmental and recreational programs. Due to its location, Stewiacke has excellent potential for attracting new industry and investment opportunities. As citizens, we need to think ‘outside the box' to create opportunities to benefit our community!
Why you'd make a good candidate: I am honest, hardworking and have a vested interest in developing our community. I will ask the hard questions that need to be answered to move this town forward.
James C (Jim) McMorran
Age: 70
Family: Single (divorced) with three children, ‘Poppa Jim' to six grandchildren
who all live in Quebec
Occupation: Retired, with a part-time job at Staples in Truro
Hobbies: Reading, photography, volunteering
Main issues: Ensure the sound long-term viability of Stewiacke and help develop a strong commercial base to help relieve the tax burden on residential property owners. Also provide for the growing number of youth and seniors in the community
Why you'd make a good candidate: I am honest, loyal, respectful of others' rights, willing and able to put in the time and effort to do the job and do it right. Oh yes, I have a sense of humour.
Pam Osborne
Age: 44
Family: Mother of 12-year-old son, Spencer
Occupation: Public civil servant
Hobbies: Community volunteer, hockey mom
Community involvement: Elected to town council in 2011 by-election; volunteer member of the Parks & Recreation Committee; member of By-law & Policy Committee; Colchester East Hants Library board member; chair of the Civic Building Committee; chair of the 2012 New Year's Levee
Main issues: Affordable housing for seniors and families, better value for our tax dollars, improving and maintaining our infrastructure (water/sewer), and the development of the industrial park which would provide much needed business growth.
Why you'd make a good candidate: I am hard working and dedicated to the community and will continue to strive to achieve better value for our tax dollars.
Richard Patterson
Age: 33
Family: Wife Elizabeth and son Mitchell
Occupation: Inside Sales Manager at Kerr Smart Energy
Hobbies: playing hockey, golfing and spending time with my family
Main issues: Town needs a revamped community spirit for both young and young at heart including more community-related activities. Would like to see improved infrastructure in the town.
Why you'd make a good candidate: I feel that I can help bring a fresh youthful perspective to the table.
Russel Stoddart
Age: 66
Family: wife Judy, two grown children and three grandchildren
Occupation: Retired from Maritime Tel & Tel
Hobbies: woodworking and doing odd jobs for others
Community involvement: two terms as a councillor in Stewiacke; one just
completed and one in the 1980s
Main issues: Infrastructure and commercial development in the town.
Why you'd make a good candidate: I have made the Town of Stewiacke my life as my wife is a lifelong resident. We raised our children here and we have worked hard for the community over the years in many ways. I wish to see the town grow and prosper and make it an even better place to live and work.
Tracy Werenka
Age: 43
Family: married with two sons, ages 18 and 16
Occupation: LPN Hemodialysis
Hobbies: camping, walking, cross-stitching and reading
Community involvement: eight years as a town councillor
Main issues: Aging infrastructure, reducing gap of ratio between residential and commercial tax base
Why you'd make a good candidate: Determined, decisive and dependable
Sherrylynn Woodworth
Age: 48
Family: Husband Robert, one son, Brookes, 12
Occupation: Bus driver with the local school board for 20 years
Hobbies: Reading, travelling
Political experience: None
Main issues: I would like to see more stability in the infrastructure and finances to be able to accept continued growth.
Why you'd make a good candidate: I have the dedication to this town and am willing to put forth the commitment needed.
Chad Ramsey
Age: 42
Family: Son, Ryan
Occupation: Co-owner of Colchester Construction
Hobbies: Four-wheeling, golf and spending time with friends and family
Political experience: None
Main issues: Residential and business development. Our central location, our many services, and our focus on growth and quality of life makes Stewiacke a great place to live and a great place to do business.
Why you'd make a good candidate: I believe my hands on experience in property development will be an asset and prove vital to important decisions that will have to be made in the coming years.
*Note: Emails to candidate Jim Acker requesting a profile were not returned by press time.
