Municipal race is on as candidates start to declare

WATERLOO REGION — The race to October’s municipal election is on and at least two of the three city mayors have confirmed they’ll be running.

“Today is the beginning of the 2018 Municipal Election period, and I wanted to let you know that I will put my name forward for a second term,” said City of Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky on social media early Tuesday morning. “My work is not done and when I look to the next four years I know there is much more to accomplish.”

Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig is also seeking re-election. Craig said he will officially file his nomination papers for mayor by May 30.

In an email to The Record, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic did not say for certain if he was going to run again. He said he was “honoured to be elected mayor in 2014 and continue to be focused on doing the job I was elected to do this term. There is still a lot of work to be done and I’ll be sharing my plans in that regard in the near future.”

Waterloo Coun. Melissa Durrell was quick to announce she will not seek re-election in the Oct. 22 election. Early Tuesday Durrell said she has decided to focus on growing her company, Durrell Communications, which she started in 2011.

“Good luck to all the candidates putting their names forward in the next municipal election,” she said on Twitter. “I will not be running. It has been my honour representing Uptown Waterloo for the last 8 years and I’m grateful for the experience.”

From May 1 to July 27 at 2 p.m. those seeking a seat on municipal council or a school board can file with their municipal clerk.

Others who have said they are running include:

• Jen Vasic, a researcher with Capacity Canada, is running in Waterloo’s Ward 5.

• Sandra Hanmer, executive-inresidence for Capacity Canada, is running in Waterloo’s Ward 1.

• Debbie Chapman will run for Kitchener council in Ward 9. Chapman, who teaches part-time at Wilfrid Laurier University, ran in 2010 against Coun. Frank Etherington and lost by one vote.

• Waterloo Coun. Diane Freeman announced on Twitter that she would run again in Ward 4.

• Township of Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz, serving in her first term as mayor, has filed her nomination papers.

• Jayne Herring will be on the ballot in Cambridge for Waterloo Region District School Board trustee.

• Karen Meissner will run in Woolwich and Wellesley Township for Waterloo Region District School Board trustee.