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Niagara Falls
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Election runner-up Allan Bisback prepared, if asked, to fill council’s empty seat
Allan Bisback, who served as a NOTL councillor from 2018 to 2022, says he's had numerous calls and emails asking if he would be interested in taking the current empty slot on council. EVAN SAUNDERS/FILE

Allan Bisback will be happy to serve on council if selected to fill Nick Ruller’s vacant position, he said.

After former councillor Nick Ruller stepped down on Sept. 11, the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake announced a vacancy on council, set to be filled within 60 days.

“I’ve had numerous calls and emails requesting that I seriously consider the position if offered,” said Bisback, who held a seat on the previous term’s council but wasn’t re-elected in the 2022 municipal election.

“I would, if offered the job, be prepared to sit on council.”

Council’s options for filling the position include a byelection, choosing a candidate from the 2022 election list or council putting out a call for candidates, Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa told The Lake Report.

“Council has to decide first what option it has to go with,” he said.

Allan Bisback was the ninth-place finisher in the 2022 council election, behind Maria Mavridis by 66 votes.

In 2020, after former councillor Stuart McCormack resigned, Coun. Sandra O’Connor — who finished ninth in the polling for eight council positions in the 2018 municipal election — was appointed to fill the vacancy.

Bisback said Zalepa reached out to him around a week after Ruller’s announcement to gauge his interest.

Some community members were contacted regarding their interest in the vacant position, Zalepa said.

When asked the names of those contacted, Zalepa refused.

“I did confirm, after speaking with my wife and some of my supporters, that I would let my name stand,” Bisback said.

Bisback ran for council on certain values in the past, he said, and if appointed, would continue to uphold them during meetings.

“Any decision that I would make would be made based on factual data and a factual approach,” he said.

Bisback served as a councillor for four years before the 2022 election.

People know, based on his previous four years on council, he tries to be as practical as possible as a part of municipal government, Bisback said.

One of his main priorities is bringing all of NOTL’s communities together, including Old Town, Virgil, St. Davids, Queenston and Glendale, he said.

“The way our council is structured, you’re a councillor of the whole — you’re a councillor for everyone,” Bisback said.

A special council meeting scheduled for next week is the next step in the decision-making process, Zalepa said.

“I want to make sure we choose the best option for the community, from a representation point of view.”

juliasacco@niagaranow.com

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