Would-be city politicians can now register for the fall election

ATTENTION ASPIRING Hamilton politicians: you can now register to run for mayor or city councillor in the fall municipal election.

The city vote is Oct. 22 and wouldbe candidates can sign up to vie for 15 different council seats or the mayor’s chair from now until July 27. And don’t forget the seats for school board trustees, both public and Catholic.

This will be the first municipal election under new ward boundaries radically redesigned by an Ontario Municipal Board decision late last year.

Notable changes include the old rural Ward 14 being carved up and eliminated and a replacement ward added on the west Mountain. The once-sprawling Ward 11 has also shrunk, donating former territory to neighbouring Ancaster and upper Stoney Creek wards.

The rejigged boundaries should create new opportunities for aspiring new councillors, while several incumbent councillors will be pitching themselves to new potential constituents if they choose to run again.

At the moment, the city race is overshadowed by a contentious provincial election vote slated for June 7 — the results of which will likely have big implications for how the municipal campaign plays out. The Liberal government, which agreed to fund Hamilton’s planned $1-billion light rail transit project, is lagging in the polls behind the Progressive Conservatives. Tory Leader Doug Ford has suggested if a new city council kills LRT, Hamilton could use the project money for other priorities.

That sets up the contentious transit project to be a huge issue for a second election in a row. The provincial election will also likely result in an open seat on council, with incumbent councillors Donna Skelly (Ward 7) and Judi Partridge (Ward 15) running against each other for the MPP position in Flamborough-Glanbrook.