WARD PROFILE: Transcona

Russ Wyatthas served three terms as city councillor forTransconasince he was first elected in 2002 and he's seeking re-election this fall.

In the 2010 election, Wyatt was re-elected. The voter turnout was 45 per cent, with 11, 388 votes cast.

Candidates

• Ray Ulasy: Heis the vice-president at Legacy Bowes Group. Ulasy has served as the chairman of the Transcona Hi Neighbour Festival for the last two years and has served as the president of the South Transcona Community Club, the Community Clubs Boards, Native Women's Transition Centre, and the Rotary Club.
• Blessing Feschuk:A graduate of Red River Colleges business administration program,Feschuk has worked in many different sectors, most prominently the health-care field. She resides in Transcona with her husband, Derek.
• George Baars-Wilhelm:He is the former executive director of the Manitoba Liberal Party. Baars-Wilhelmis a graduate of both Red River College and Robertson College and has worked in many non-profit and private sector roles. He has sat on many boards in Winnipeg, including Manitoba E-Association Board of Directors and Manitoba Alliance of Artists with Disabilities (MAAWD).
• Russ Wyatt:Hewas elected into office in 2002 andhas held many positions withincouncil, includingdowntown development committee chair and city finance committee chair. He is the son of former city councillorReg Wyatt.

Issues

From Jan. 1 toSept.16, 4,426 calls have been placed to 311. The number one complaint is missed garbage collection, with 1,056 calls. There is also a high volume of complaints about missed recycling collection, snow removal on roads, neighbourhood livability, and potholes.

The Plessis Road underpass project is also an issue for ward residents. From summer 2013 to fall 2015, the southern stretch of Plessis Road between Dugald Road and Kernaghan Avenue is blocked off due to underpass construction. Residents who use this entrance to the heart of Transcona must redirect, with Ravenhurst Street and Bournais Drive being the closest access points.

Though most residents regard Transcona as a safe neighbourhood, crime rates are up 44 per cent over this time last year. Between Jan.1 and Sept.16, break and enter (other) and theft of motor vehicle (actual) were recorded 68 times each. Break and enter (residential) and theft of motor vehicle (actual) also had a high volume of calls.

Candidate Q & A

• Whodo you support for mayor of Winnipeg?

Ray Ulasy:I havent come to that decision yet, because Ive been so busy with civic election in our area. I can work with anybody in terms of city hall.

Blessing Feschuk:Im going to take a look to make sure I know what each candidate stands for, because I am sick and tired of tax increases.

George Baars-Wilhelm:It doesnt really matter who I support. In regards to who councillors support, you have to basically support whoever gets the power. For myself, Im trying to be unpartisan on this matter and support the people of Transcona.

Russ Wyatt:Im not endorsing anyone for mayor. I leave that up to the people in the community to decide.

• With whichpolitical party are you associated?

Ray Ulasy:I have no political affiliation.

Blessing Feschuk:Im completely independent.

George Baars-Wilhelm:Im quasi. I was the former executive director of the Manitoba Liberal Party. And for people who know politics, the NDP and the Liberals have the tendency to go back and forth and work together more often than say the conservative side. Personally, Im Liberal but I do support a lot of labour causes.

Russ Wyatt:Liberal Party, but I run as an independent.

Voters' Voices

Citizens in Transcona believe there are many issues in their ward, including accountability and effectiveness.

• Ana Dueck, 20

Dueck, who lives on Bernard Bay,feels project management is an issue in Transcona, specifically the Plessis Road underpass project. She wants to see councilput pressure on construction companies to finish projects on time, since the project is both over budget and over schedule.

• Val Light, 57

Light, who lives on John Duncan Drive, agrees that the project is an issue.

Its been quite a disruption for the community, said Light.

Each citizen interviewed agreed that infrastructure is a big concern in the area.

• FrankieDemarchier, 61

Infrastructure seems to be spoken about by anyone that you would speak to. Im not doubting that thats a priority, saidDemarchier, who lives on McFadden Avenue.

My priority is an elected official that has to have the integrity to give their constituents feedback immediately within 48 hours and return these calls.

• RandyRentz, 60

Rentz, who lives on Baxter Bay,said he has a different priority concern.

Roads are probably number one. Some of the roads and intersections are really bad. Theyre really just patching and not really solving the problem, he said.

• Suzanne Hunter, 51

Each citizen said they feel safe in their neighbourhood.Hunter, who lives on Woodside Crescent, said its because she knows everyone in her area and there is a low crime rate.

Rentz said its because hes lived there all his life. Demarchier said hes never questioned his safety, as he also grew up in the ward.

Russ Wyatt has given constituents 12 years to determine if he is a good representative of their ward.

I think its been represented alright, said Rentz. Wyatt [seems to] like his name in the paper, so he gets things done. But hes not a man that I would back, but a man that gets major things done for the area.

[Wyatt] has brought a lot of good things to Transcona. There are issues that he probably hasnt handled correctly, said Demarchier. The most concern I have, is he, or whoever is elected, needs to have the ability and the integrity to get back into the constituents. The problem I find with any politician is they go into office and they seem to lose their integrity after three or four months.

Dueck reiterates that they only issue she feels hasnt been given enough time at city hall is the Plessis Road Underpass Project.

Even though they feel Wyatt has done a good job representing Transcona, these citizens feel there are still some things that need to change in city hall as a whole, with more transparency being a key issue.

More accountability and openness, with nothing behind closed doors, said Hunter.

Demarchier has similar views.

The elected officials always say that they need more transparency, but how about more transparency from the City of Winnipeg as a whole? I dont know how any corporation or business would run and make any money, if they ran it the way the City of Winnipeg has in the last six, seven, or eight years. I wont point fingers, but everyone needs to talk responsibility, said Demarchier.

Light has a different concern.

I have a big concern about whats going to happen at The Forks, with that piece of property that they seem to go back at forth on [Parcel Four], she said.

The citizens also cited better fiscal spending, better snow removal, more infrastructure for cyclists, and more progress on the rapid transit lines as issues theyd like to see change at city hall.

All five said they plan to vote on Oct. 22.