Green drops out of mayoral race

Daryl Bennett, Diane Therrien will compete for the top job

The city’s mayoral race is down to two.

Restauranteur Cameron Green withdrew his bid for mayor at the 11th hour.

“Unfortunately, given my current work life-balance, the demands of everything were just getting a little bit too difficult for me to keep up with,” Green said after withdrawing at City Hall on Friday.

The deadline to file nomination papers for the Oct. 22 municipal election was Friday at 2 p.m.

Green pulled out about 30 minutes before the cut off.

That leaves Town Ward Coun. Diane Therrien and incumbent Mayor Daryl Bennett in the race.

Therrien announced her candidacy in May and Bennett declared his intentions on Wednesday.

Green co-owns Kettle Drums Restaurant and McThirsty’s Pint, both in the downtown core.

He’s also opening a new eatery in Port Hope with his business partner. The Thirsty Goose opens Monday on Walton St.

Green apologized for stepping out of the

race, saying the decision came with strong regret.

“I feel the best thing for the city, in terms of the direction and the issues that I think are important, is if I take my name out of the race,” he said.

Affordable housing, addiction support and mental health support are the issues that drew Green to politics.

He said he entered the race as a “big rookie in the political world” and it’s been an eye-opening experience.

The entrepreneur said he’s not sure if he’ll run again.

“I’m hoping in the future, if I do intend to run, I’ll have a bit more understanding and I’ll be able to come with a better ability to support and to perform and to serve the public,” he said.

Green said he has full confidence in the mayoral candidates left in the race.

“Whoever does lead the city

I’m sure will do a fantastic job and I look forward to seeing what the outcome is.”

The unofficial final list of candidates for mayor and city council:

Mayor

Daryl Bennett (incumbent) Diane Therrien

Otonabee Ward

Brock Grills

Bob Hall

Lesley Parnell (incumbent) Jason Wallwork

Ryan Waudby

Kim Zippel

Monaghan Ward

Henry Clarke (incumbent) Charmaine Magumbe

Dave McGowan

Don Vassiliadis (incumbent) Jeff Westlake

Town Ward

Kemi Akapo

Jane Davidson

Jenny Lanciault

Dean Pappas (incumbent) Jim Russell

Ashburnham Ward

Gary Baldwin (incumbent) Ian Peddle

Paul Rellinger

Keith Riel (incumbent) Sheila Wood

Northcrest Ward

Andrew Beamer (incumbent) Dave Haacke (incumbent) Zach Hatton

Stephen Wright

School boards

Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (Two trustees)

Wayne Bonner (incumbent) Dennis Hildebrand

Rose Kitney (incumbent)

Steve Russell

Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board

Helen McCarthy (incumbent) Braden Leal

Conseil Scolaire Viamonde

Sylvie Landry (incumbent) Anna-Karyna Ruszkowski

Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir

Roger Brideau (incumbent) Marcellin Kwilu Mondo

Andre Linsky