Jody Curran comes again

Just hours after Ward 2 Councillor Brady Irwin announced he won't be running in the November 10 municipal elections, his wardmate Jody Curran filed nomination papers for another term.

Curran (shown at right with Ward 4 counterpart Lou Turco) represented Ward 2 from 1997 to 2000.

In the last election, Curran lost to Irwin and Tony Ryma, but last November he was chosen by Council to fill the seat after Ryma moved to Sudbury to anchor MCTV News.

Also running in Ward 2 are Mike O'Shea and 'Little' John Wieczor.

The following are Curran's announcement and his resume, followed by a full list of current candidates in the 2003 municipal election.

**************************************************************** Media Release

Jody Curran, incumbent in Ward 2, announced today that has just filed nomination papers to run again as City Councillor.

He is seeking to serve in the ward that he has represented for more than four of the last six years.

Curran said that it's important for the ward to have an experienced and a hard-working councillor, especially one with time to devote to all aspects of the job.

He noted that with his counterpart Brady Irwin retiring from city politics, it's important for the ward to be represented by at least one councillor with municipal experience.

Curran said that jobs, marketing the area, and expanding our tax base are the goals that he will pursue, if elected.

"Because of a continuing trend toward population decline, it's more imperative than ever that we foster the creation of jobs--bringing our youth home, building the tax base, and easing the tax load," he said.

"Many signs point to a tax crunch this coming year and so the municipality needs people in office who understand the process," he added.

He prides himself on his community work, citing over 30 years of working on behalf of health, sports, service and community organizations.

He was involved in such varied activities as fund-raising for United Way, coaching minor hockey, and serving his church.

He also helped found and drive the Building an Extraordinary Community process and was the main force behind creating the Millennium Water Fountain in the river by Clergue Park.

He was a founding board member of PUC Inc. In addition, he helped establish the Soogoma Industries building on White Oak Drive when he served as president of the local Association for the Mentally Retarded.

He has established himself as a hard-working and approachable councillor, handling over 1,000 contacts with residents each year he's been in office.

Curran is married to Joan, a guidance counsellor for the Algoma District School Board.

They have three children: Bruce, a lawyer in Toronto; Andrea, teaching in the Toronto area; and Jamie, a doctor doing his residency in Newfoundland.

Resume - J. D. (Jody) Curran

BACKGROUND

Jody was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, and worked here for his entire working career, except for two years when he worked for a newspaper in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Jody is the son of the late John A. Curran, long-time editor of the Sault Star, and grandson of James W. Curran, the founder and editor of the newspaper.

Jody is married to Joan, guidance counsellor at the Sault Ste. Marie Adult Education Centre of the Algoma District School Board.

They have three children: Bruce, a lawyer working for Towers Perrin in Toronto; Andrea, an elementary school teacher in north Toronto; and James, a doctor doing his residency years in Newfoundland.

He has been a resident of Ward 2 for over 40 years.

COMMUNITY WORK

Jody has a long history of public service in Sault Ste. Marie stretching over more than 30 years.

It was under his guidance as president of the Association for the Mentally Retarded that the Soogoma workshop was established on White Oak Drive.

His involvement with public service included service as a coach in the minor hockey, executive service with his church, service club work for over 10 years, and Chamber of Commerce work to foster business.

He was also a founding board member of PUC Inc., and co-chair of the Millennium Committee that established the water fountain on the river near Clergue Park.

His community Involvement involved:

Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce Member, 1968-present Director, 1993-98 President, 1996-97

Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie Member, 1993-present Director, 1994-96

Cultural Advisory Board Board member, 2002-present

Sault Ste. Marie Municipal Heritage Committee (formerly Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee) Board member, 2002-present

Safe Communities Partnership Board member, 2002-present

PUC Inc. Director, 2000-2001

Building an Extraordinary Community Co-ordinating and Working Committees, 1998-01

Millennium Committee Co-chair, 1999-00

Queenstown Business Improvement Area Board of Directors, 1998-00

Algoma University Board of Directors, 1998-00

Algoma District Social Planning Council Board of Directors, 1996-99

United Way Member, Community Services Advisory Committee, 1994-99 Member, Campaign Committee, 1970-5

Soo PeeWee Hockey Association Coach, 1984-89

St. Andrew's United Church Executive board, 1983-93 President 1987

Sault Region Conservation Authority Member, Land Use Committee, 1970-72

Sault Association for the Mentally Retarded Director, 1968-71 President, 1971

EDUCATION

University: University of Toronto, Bachelor of Arts Carleton University, Bachelor of Journalism

WORK

1997-03 Curran Consulting: Owner/manager: Operating communications' business. Recent contracts included work for: Attractions Canada, Southam Newspapers, Sault Star and Sault Chamber of Commerce.

1997-00 & 02-03 Municipality of Sault Ste. Marie: City Councillor

1994-96 Sault Star: Reader Sales Manager.

1989-94 Sault Star: Advertising Manager.

1969-89 Sault Star: Assistant City Editor, City Editor, News Editor: Co-ordinated local news gathering operation, with 25 reporters, desk people and photographers.

1968-69 Kitchener-Waterloo Record: Reporter, Editor: Reporting and desk duties.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Southam Leadership Course: Jackson's Point, ON.

American Press Institute: Executive Development Program, Washington, D.C.

American Press Institute: Leadership in the Advertising Department, Washington, D.C.

Canadian Press: Member: Ontario News Study and Data File News Study Committees.

Southam Internship: Southam News headquarters, Ottawa. American Press Institute: City Editors Course, New York.

AWARDS

1995 Won the Canadian Circulation Manager Award for Newspaper Carrier Day/Appreciation programs for newspapers up to 30,000 circulation.

1994 Led team which won the Canadian Daily Newspaper Association award for Public Relations/Community Events in the 25,000-to-75,000 circulation category, for section honouring Sault area veterans 50 years after the end of WW II.

1993 Led teams which won Southam Co-op Awards for Best Vendor Support Sections in the under-75,000 circulation category.

**************************************************************** To see a complete list of candidates nominated to date for this year's municipal elections, please click here.