Three candidates are vying for the city council seat in Orléans West-Innes (formerly Innes Ward) starting with the current incumbent Laura Dudas.

Dudas first won the seat in 2018 when she defeated three other candidates for the privilege.

Prior to her getting elected, Dudas was a City of Ottawa employee for eight years, and before that, she was a journalist with several daily newspapers. She also served as president of the Blackburn Community Association for nearly 10 years.

Among the many accomplishments Dudas lists on her website are having campaigned and secured improvements and investments for new and revitalized community parks; enhanced pedestrian, cycling, road and transit infrastructure, including the extension of light rail transit to the east; and the expansion of the Lois Kemp Arena in Blackburn Hamlet.

In her role as councillor, Laura sits as the vice-chair of the finance and economic development committee, as well as a member of the transportation committee, the community and protective services com-mittee, and the city planning committee. She also sits on the Heart of Orléans Business Improvement Association (BIA).

If re-elected, Dudas’ priorities will be in the areas of protecting existing greenspaces; improving city services, especially in the east end; maintaining affordable living by limiting property taxes and ensuring fiscal responsibility at City Hall; and maintaining safe communities.

Lori Stinson has lived in Orléans East - Innes for the past 12 years. The single mother of three has coached recreational soccer with the Gloucester Dragons, regularly volunteered for school lunch programs, and served on parent-teacher councils.

She also owned and operated a small business in Gloucester, Chelsea, and Wake-field while teaching and researching at post-secondary educational institutions in Ottawa for almost 20 years.

Stinson currently teaches at both the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. Her research and teaching interests include corporate crime, climate change, ecological justice, gender-based violence, and migration and citizenship.

Chris Fraser has lived in Blackburn Hamlet for over 20 years. He is a former executive member of the Blackburn Community Associaion; one time manager of the Blackburn Stingers midget hockey team; and a former board member of the Harwood Condominium Corporation.

Recently retired after serving in the federal public service for over 30 years, Fraser entered the race to give voters a choice in the upcoming election. (Stinson registered as a candidate after Fraser did.)

Among his guiding principles are fiscal prudence and responsibiliy and maintaining and improving core services such as road and sidewalk maintenance and emergency services.