‘We have just so much talent around here and so much heritage, and I don’t see that being backed up very much at all \u2013 and it’s an easy investment,’ he said.<\/p>\n
Josh McNally has spent his adult years as a professional blues artist, but he now hopes to become the next mayor of Sault Ste. Marie.<\/p>\n
Also known as \u2018The Preacher,\u2019 the 36-year-old musician decided to run after seeing social issues grow worse in the city\u2019s core, and he hopes to enact progressive solutions for people facing homelessness, drug addiction and other challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve actually been thinking about it for a while,\u201d he told SooToday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn’t see a lot of people with my viewpoints coming forward, so I was like, I’ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rather than relying on increased policing to tackle these problems, McNally hopes to address Sault Ste. Marie\u2019s social issues by expanding support for those struggling.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople look at people as a problem, right?\u201d he said. \u201cThey’re not the problem \u2013 the problem’s the way we’ve been doing stuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the best way to go is to invest in resources for people, and make it accessible and make sure we have follow-up so people don’t fall through the cracks so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Providing support for those in need is part of McNally\u2019s broader philosophy to help Sault Ste. Marie become a more welcoming place for all who call the city home \u2013 as well as those who visit.<\/p>\n
On his website, McNally lays out plans to make the Sault more of a tourism destination, with plans to expand opportunities for local artists and businesses and provide municipal support for creative workers.<\/p>\n
One idea in McNally\u2019s platform is to look into organizing a destination music festival that connects visitors with local restaurants and businesses around the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have just so much talent around here and so much heritage, and I don’t see that being backed up very much at all \u2013 and it’s an easy investment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
“We want to lean into arts and culture and making Sault Ste. Marie more of a destination.\u201d<\/p>\n
In McNally\u2019s view, pursuing more deliberate support for local art and tourism will also help create a city that residents enjoy \u2013 and one that might entice more to call the Sault home in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could have all the jobs in the world, but if young families come here and they see a dead downtown with a bunch of armed officers walking around, they’re not going to move here for that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to liven stuff up. We have all those people here, and just making\u00a0our city more unified.\u201d<\/p>\n
McNally also plans to support affordable housing development in the city, in part by working with social services on potential supportive housing units.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re going to have to build houses and apartments and everything like it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s one of the things that has to happen in the city \u2013 we don’t really have a way around that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taken together, McNally\u2019s plan aims to support those in need, diversify the city\u2019s economy, and create more opportunities for local creatives and business owners.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to build on the places, experiences, businesses, recreation, culture, and public spaces that make the Sault rewarding to visit and enjoyable to call home,\u201d McNally states on his campaign website.<\/p>\n
\u201cTourism and the creative economy can grow alongside steel, manufacturing, logistics, forestry, mining supply, technology, and professional services, giving the city more ways to prosper.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the city\u2019s issues, however, may require more out of the taxpayer, McNally said \u2013 such as fixing roadways throughout the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody wants to increase their taxes, but there’s a ton of stuff in our city right now that it’s gotten so bad that we kind of need to throw some money at some stuff,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody wants to say that stuff, but the roads, the dump \u2013 there’s just a ton of stuff we need to invest in.\u201d<\/p>\n
More can be read about McNally\u2019s platform here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Join us for the Sault Ste. Marie Mayoral Debate on Oct. 14, hosted by SooToday and CBC News. To register for the free event, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 2026 municipal election will take place on Oct. 26. SooToday will profile other local candidates running for election.<\/p>\n The profile for Mayor Matthew Shoemaker is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The profile for Joel Rowswell is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The profile for Matthew Toffelmire is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n