Who you gonna call? Shoemaker?

Speaking in Italian and English, Ward 3 councillor Matthew Shoemaker offered last night to help residents of Ward 6 while their two council representatives seek provincial office

File photo: Ward 3 councillor Matthew Shoemaker. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday

Ross Romano and Joe Krmpotich have both stepped back from their duties as Ward 6 councillors to run in the June 1 provincial election.

So who should Ward 6 residents contact if they have a problem?

At the beginning of Monday night's CIty Council meeting, Ward 3 councillor Matthew Shoemaker announced that he's happy to take calls from concerned Ward 6 residents.

So happy, in fact, that Shoemaker made the announcement in both English and Italian.

The following are the full text of letters sent to the city last week by Romano and Krmpotich.

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Mayor Christian Provenzano and Council for the City of Sault Ste. Marie
City of Sault Ste. Marie
99 Foster Drive
Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Your Worship:

Today Premier Kathleen Wynne made the decision to proceed with a byelection in Sault Ste. Marie and set an election date of June 1, 2017.

I am informing you of my intention to take a leave of absence without pay until that date, so I can devote my attention to the campaign and fulfil my responsibilities as the Ontario PC candidate in this byelection.

It is not a decision I make lightly, but it will be impossible for me to devote my full attentions to my constituents during this time, and as such it would be inappropriate for me to receive payment while I pursue provincial office.

Therefore, please suspend my honorarium immediately, from the date of May 3 until June 1, 2017.

Please know that I remain dedicated to serving Ward 6 and the City of Sault Ste. Marie to the fullest of my ability.

Warmest regards,

Ross Romano,
City councillor, Ward 6

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Joe Krmpotich
13 Winfield Drive
Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6C 2N2

May 4, 2017

Malcolm White
Clerk of the City of Sault Ste. Marie
99 Foster Drive
Sault Ste. Mariie, ON, P6A 5X6

Dear Malcolm:

Please be advised that a writ was issued for a provincial byelection to be held in Sault Ste. Marie provincial electoral district for a June 1 election day.

As I am a candidate in this byelection, I wish to forego all monetary compensation from the city effective yesterday for the duration of the provincial election campaign period.

I do however want to continue to serve constituents with queries they may have but I will be absent from the two scheduled council meetings during this period.

Sincerely,

Joe Krmpotich
Councillor, Ward 6

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