Cistaro, Hilsinger file papers to run in municipal election; Johnston challenges Provenzano for mayor’s seat

Sam Cistaro filed his nomination papers to run for a city council seat in Ward 2 Friday.

A husband and father of two, Cistaro has lived in the ward for 20 years.

“The residents of Sault Ste. Marie have asked for change - I am that change,” Cistaro stated in a news release issued Friday.

“Three of my goals for my first term include building on the great work spearheaded by Mayor Provenzano, Josh Ingram and the Downtown Association with regards to the revitalization of the downtown. My family runs a small business downtown (Stork & Bundle) and we know that it takes a community effort to improve opportunities for everyone downtown,” Cistaro wrote.

“Secondly, using my committee experience and connections, I will work to bring another recreation attraction to the downtown core. This will be free and inclusive to our residents and visitors that will come and stay and shop in our downtown core,” the candidate added.

Cistaro brings recreation-oriented committee experience to his quest for a Ward 2 seat in the 2018 municipal election campaign, being a current member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC), Sports Hall of Fame committee, Best for Kids committee, Splash Pad subcommittee and a past member of the Walk of Fame committee.    

“In my current roles on the Best for Kids and Parks and Recreation committees, I have been able to work in a team environment to continue to bring new and improve existing programs to our Summer Program held at Etienne Brule Community Hub,” Cistaro wrote.

Thirdly, Cistaro also stated he believes in limiting the amount of consecutive terms councillors should be able to serve.

“I will put forward a motion stating that all councillors can only run in back to back elections. The community needs new voices and new ideas, not complacency."

Meanwhile, Ted Johnston is challenging Mayor Christian Provenzano for council’s top elected position.  

Johnston placed third, with 699 votes, behind Provenzano and Debbie Amaroso, in a field of six mayoral candidates in the 2014 municipal election.

Born in Alberta, Johnston grew up in several communities across Canada and around the world, as his father served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

As a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Ratepayers Association, Johnston was critical of city hall on taxes and of the Sault PUC on hydro rates in 2014, calling them deterrents to job creation.

As of July 6, there are four candidates so far for the two Ward 1 council spots: incumbent councillors Paul Christian and Sandra Hollingsworth, as well as well-known local businessman Don Mitchell and SimCity gamer Derek Pearce.

In Ward 2, veteran councillor Lou Turco is running again, against Sam Cistaro, Lisa Vezeau-Allen, former executive director of the Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie and District, and Jason Young.

Incumbents Judy Hupponen and Matthew Shoemaker are seeking re-election in Ward 3, along with John Bruno, retired Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board superintendent of education, Donna Hilsinger, a well-known local figure with more than 40 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, Past President and Current Volunteer Executive Director of the Algoma Fall Festival and current Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board chair, and Winona Hutchinson, a child and youth worker and retail business manager.

In Ward 4, incumbent councillors Marchy Bruni and Rick Niro will be acclaimed if no other nominations are received by the July 27 deadline.

There are, so far, no declared candidates for Ward 5.

Nominations, so far, for Algoma District School Board trustee

Ward 1 - Jennifer Sarlo

Ward 2 - Susan Myers

Ward 3 - Greg Bowman, Karen Morin

Ward 4 - Susan Thayer

Ward 5 - Nick Apostle, Sandra Edwards

Nominations, so far, for Huron-Superior District School Board trustee

John Caputo

Leslie Cassidy-Amadio

Tony D'Agostino

Gary Trembinksi

Sandra Turco

Nominations, so far, for Conseil Scolaire de District du Grand Nord de l'Ontario trustee

Louise Primeau

Patricia Lofstrom

Nominations, so far, for Conseil Scolaire de District Catholique du Nouvel-Ontario trustee

Suzanne (LeClair) Salituri

July 27 is the deadline for candidates to file nomination papers.

The Sault Ste. Marie municipal election will be held Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.

With files from David Helwig, SooToday