Meet the candidates on the ballot to be Winnipeg’s next city councillor

Four candidates have now thrown their hats into the proverbial ring to fill Jason Schreyer’s former city council seat.

The byelection is set for Oct. 25 to fill the Elmwood-East Kildonan ward’s city councillor position, the seat left vacant after Schreyer’s sudden death last spring.

There are currently four candidates registered, according to the City of Winnipeg’s website.

Abel Josè Gutierrez

Abel Josè Gutierrez is the latest candidate confirmed in the race.

Gutierrez was born in Mexico and raised in Elmwood, where he’s lived most of his life.

He has been in the construction industry for 20 years, telling CTV News he currently works as a senior project manager.

He is also the vice president of the East Side Eagles Football Club where he leads youth programming.

He said he is running to give voters strong, local representation from someone who understands the community. Addressing crime, improving infrastructure, enhancing recreational opportunities, and expanding social supports are his top priorities, he said.

Emma Durand-Wood

Emma Durand-Wood has lived in Elmwood since 2008.

She has been deeply involved in the community, she said, leading the re-establishment of the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association and serving as vice-chair of the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation.

She is also the co-founder of the Trees Please Winnipeg Coalition.

Her vision for Elmwood-East Kildonan includes a financially sustainable, safe, healthy and inclusive community that is neighbourhood-focused, she said.

Carmen Prefontaine

Carmen Prefontaine is a former vice president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) but has stepped down from all union roles after registering as a candidate, she said.

She also spent 15 years working for the city, an experience she said gives her a deep understanding of how municipal services function and how they can be improved.

Prefontaine told CTV News she is running for council because of issues like rising crime, persistent poverty, aging infrastructure, and a lack of affordable housing.

Zekaria Selahadin

Zekaria Selahadin has lived in Elmwood for the past 13 years, having graduated from Elmwood High School.

He is a recent graduate of the University of Winnipeg with a degree in international development studies. He has also volunteered in the community.

He said he is running for city council because he has seen firsthand how slow and disconnected city responses can be.

• With files from CTV’s William Reimer