Regina’s Ward 5 has 20,618 voters and covers much of the city’s east end.

It is made up of the Glencairn, Parkridge and Creek Side areas and the Dewdney East Community Association, as well as the Fourth Public Schools Subdivision.

There are six new candidates vying for the city hall position along with the incumbent councilor. John Findura is not seeking re-election after four terms on council.

Dharmesh Dave

Dr. Dharmesh Dave holds a PhD in Accounting and a Gold Medal in Masters in Commerce.

He has resided in Canada for 12 years and says his life is shaped by a passion for education, spirituality and community service.

“In my role as a priest at the Regina Hindu Temple, I provide spiritual guidance and cultural leadership to a diverse community. Over the past nine years, I have also had the privilege of representing the Gujarati community in an executive capacity, while serving on the Board of Directors of the Multilingual Association of Regina,” Dave states on his nomination page.

He believes his roles allow him to champion inclusiveness and promote understanding between cultural groups in the city.

“I remain deeply committed to empowering our communities, fostering unity and ensuring every voice in Regina is heard and respected,” he said.

Grant Jakubowski

Jakubowski has lived in Ward 5 for 17 years and is director of sales and finance.

He says his career has prepared him to meet the challenges the city faces.

“The safety and security of our citizens is important to me and I am proud to have members of my family serving as first responders and working in specialty care,” Jakubowski said on his nomination page.

He plans to “go back to basics” if elected and will advocate for wise use of taxpayer dollars.

Jakubowski says taxes should not increase for Regina residents.

“Prioritized and wise investments in infrastructure and community safety are among my top priorities,” Jakubowski said.

Leticia Oystrick

Oystrick says since she doesn’t own a business and has no ties to land or businesses, all she has to gain is to ensure “all” taxpayers and citizens of Regina are heard and that taxpayers’ money is used responsibly.

“I worked for the City of Regina from 2008 to 2023 in a supervisory role. I have seen what is happening with our tax dollars and I am ready to question the administration and trustees on their past, present and future spending habits,” Oystrick said on her candidacy page.

She also promises to hold community meetings once a month to hear the needs of Ward 5.

Marianne Mucz

Mucz has an honors degree in commerce and has spent 24 years in financial services, which she says gives her an understanding of debt and financial services.

Mucz also says she has no hidden agenda or groups supporting her campaign.

“We need our infrastructure. We need trash collection, police (and) fire, road and park maintenance, and recreation services for all ages and abilities,” she says on her application page .

Mucz also says her mandate is fiscal responsibility and she will pledge to vote against any salary increase proposals for council, listen to Ward 5 residents and ensure every dollar spent is done wisely in order to maintain the community and maximize returns on investments.

Sarah Turnbull

Turnbull says his lived and professional expertise will provide him with a unique skill set.

“I show up and I get results,” she says on her candidate page. Turnbull supports this statement by pointing out that in 2020 there were only two accessible playgrounds, there are currently five, including Glencairn, she said.

Turnbull is a functional planner with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Capital Planning, as well as a registered interior designer and business owner. She is also the mother of a child who uses a wheelchair and has complex medical needs.

Turnbull says it’s imperative to revamp access to everyday items.

She says this includes community, inclusion, access to services, responsible growth, accountability and transparency.

Shifaan Shafi

Shafi is a University of Regina student who says he brings young passion and innovations with a fresh perspective.

“This includes renovating roads by minimizing the time spent on construction and reducing property taxes by promoting transparent budgeting,” he says on his candidate page.

He believes his volunteering in food distribution has allowed him to see how tasks can be accomplished with a united workforce of young and old, allowing him to bridge age gaps.

“I believe that a leader must be reliable and transparent; qualities that I will respect to ensure Regina’s future is shaped by those who inherit it,” Shafi said.

Advance voting for the Regina election ended Monday. Voting for the municipal and school elections will take place on November 13.