When residents in LaSalle and Windsor's Ward 2 go to the polls this October in the municipalities' byelections, they'll have a wide field of candidates from which to choose.
There are now seven candidates running in LaSalle's byelection to replace Councillor Sue Desjarlais, who died in April, and three running in Windsor's Ward 2 vote. That seat on City Council opened up after Fabio Costante resigned earlier this summer to take over as CEO of the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation.
Along with Brian Green and Nick Amlin, Helmi Charif has filed his nomination papers.
Charif is a veteran of local campaigns, having run twice for municipal council, three times provincially and once in a federal election.
He says residents in Ward 2 feel neglected by the current city administration.
"It's time for Ward 2 to be heard," Charif said. "It's time to make a real change in this ward. People deserve honest representation. They deserve better services. They deserve a policy that reflects their needs."
Among Charif's top priorities are addressing the affordable housing crisis, fixing aging infrastructure, promoting economic revitalization, and doing something about the boarded-up homes in the west end of the city.
"I've seen the challenges up close, so my motivation is simple. I want to be a true voice for the people who are too often left behind," said Charif.
In LaSalle, a seventh candidate, Robbie Durling, has filed his nomination papers to run for the vacancy on that town council.
Mike Seguin, Brandon Meloche, Chris Matis, Tory McKay, Kate Paddon, and Brad Krewench have already filed their papers to run in the LaSalle vote.
Candidates in LaSalle have until September 5 at 2 p.m. to file their papers for the October 20 byelection.
In Windsor, the deadline to file nomination papers is 2 p.m. on September 12. The Windsor Ward 2 byelection is on October 27, with advance polling on October 17 and 18 at Campbell Baptist Church on Wyandotte Street West.
