Ottawa’s municipal races shaping up
With the provincial election firmly in the rear-view mirror, attention now shifts to October’s municipal race.
Mayor Jim Watson and twothirds of the 23-member council have already filed the necessary paperwork to stand for re-election, while several others have confirmed they intend to run and will register soon.
Veteran councillors who chair the city’s planning, transit, transportation, and community and protective services committees have all thrown their hats in the ring. So too have a trio of likeminded urban councillors wrapping up their first terms. With more than 80 per cent of council confirmed to run again, there’s a chance the next term of council could look awfully similar to the current one.
Only one councillor — College ward rep Rick Chiarelli — remained tight-lipped about his plans when approached Tuesday.
Chiarelli said he’s never announced his intentions before July. Even then, the campaign lasts three times as long as a provincial one. If he knocked on a voter’s door today, Chiarelli said, they may not remember the interaction come election day on Oct. 22.
He said he also didn’t want to confuse voters in his ward, where cousin Bob Chiarelli, a former Liberal cabinet minister, was seeking re-election in last week’s provincial election. (Chiarelli lost to Progressive Conservative challenger Jeremy Roberts.)
Stittsville Coun. Shad Qadri says he made the same calculation. His wife Theresa Qadri ran for the provincial Liberals in the new Carleton riding, which Goldie Ghamari won for the PCs, so he held off until Thursday night to confirm his intention to seek re-election. Only three wards — Innes, Kanata North and Bay — will see wide open races. Councillors Jody Mitic, Marianne Wilkinson and Mark Taylor, respectively, have all said they will not seek re-election.
Four contestants have already registered in Innes, including two defeated by Mitic in 2014 — Laura Dudas and François Trépanier.
Three people are registered in Kanata North, including Matt Muirhead, whom Wilkinson beat in2014.
There are also three registered in Bay, including two-term public school trustee Theresa Kavanagh.
Mayor Watson faces three challengers — Hamid Alakozai, Bernard Couchman and Michael Pastien.
Couchman garnered 1,255 votes when he ran for mayor in 2014, while Pastien, running for councillor in Bay ward, received 123 votes.
Nomination papers must be filed before July 27 at 2 p.m.