Two candidates are facing off in the mayoral race of Fort Smith, New Jersey

The upcoming Fort Smith, NWT mayoral election will see incumbent candidate Fred Daniels face off against councilor Dana Ferguson, each with their own vision for the city’s future.

The race comes as Fort Smith faces the ongoing aftermath of wildfire evacuations and several upcoming infrastructure projects.

The future mayor will also become one of the leaders of the newly formed Thebach Leadership Council and help shape it. Five local governing bodies, including the city of Fort Smith, formed a council in June, committing to work together.

Daniels says he is seeking re-election so he can continue to work on essential infrastructure projects that he believes are critical to the city’s long-term success.

“Your water, your roads, your sewers, your garbage trucks – these are things that people really need,” he said. “This issue has been overlooked for too long and the time has come where we need to do it now.”

Daniels also prioritized “overdue” projects such as expanding the city’s fire station and upgrading equipment for volunteer firefighters.

“We have to take control and see it through to the end,” he said.

Daniels was elected mayor in 2021 and served one term. He said the transition from working in public services to becoming mayor was a learning experience for him. Daniels called several meetings with the deputy mayor during his term, but said he wanted to improve.

“I’ve never been to this arena before,” he said. “There are definitely areas where I need to improve and I am learning throughout the semester.”

Daniels represented the city in signing the memorandum of understanding to create the Thebach Leadership Council.

He said he has lived in the community all his life and is passionate about its people.

“The community has always been good to me,” he said. “And now it’s my turn to give back to the community.”

“I focus on solutions,” says Ferguson

Ferguson, who served as a councilor for three years, says she would bring a hands-on leadership style to the mayor’s office, demonstrating a willingness to step in and actively work on solutions for the community.

She cites her experience during last year’s fire evacuation, when she remained in the community and informed residents daily about the situation via videos and helped where needed.

“I definitely keep my feet on the ground.” I jump in and ask, “What can I do to make it better?” I focus on solutions and I think that’s what I present,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson and her husband own and operate the Pelican Rapids Inn in Fort Smith. She said she has strong personal and professional support systems in place that will allow her to focus on her role as mayor.

Ferguson said she sees a lot of potential in Fort Smith’s recreational and outdoor spaces and wants to make sure they meet the needs of the community.

She stressed that the local leisure center, which has a library, gym, swimming pool and ice rink, is a key resource that should be maintained and improved as needed. She also identified the arena, outdoor track, walking trails, skate park and snowboard park as priorities and said she wanted to make sure the facilities and programs meet the needs of residents, including youth and seniors.

“I am passionate about the things I am involved in. I am loyal, focused and motivated to this,” she said.

Ferguson also expressed her support for the Thebacha Leadership Council, saying it is an important partnership that is critical to supporting the needs of residents.

Election Day in Fort Smith is October 21, with early voting taking place on October 9. In addition to the two mayoral candidates, 12 people are running for six council seats.