Last minute rush to register as local races set for municipal election
A surge of deadline day registrations had candidates crowding the second floor hallway outside the elections office at London City Hall this afternoon.
Anyone in line by the 2 p.m. deadline was permitted to file their paperwork.
Author on municipal leadership and former Board of Control member Gord Hume says, “It worries me because it’s hard to mount a campaign at the last minute if you are going to make a serious effort at [winning] it.”
Eight candidates for council or school trustee seats registered on Thursday — 14 registered on Friday.
According to the clerk’s office, 72 candidates are seeking one of the 15 seats on London City Council.
Both of council’s appointed members, Mariam Hamou and John Fyfe-Millar are running to retain their seats.
(CTV News London file photo)
They were chosen by council to fill a pair of vacancies in 2021.
Meanwhile, the race in Ward 1 includes incumbent Michael Van Holst and a relatively large field of eight challengers.
There will also be a lot of council turnover because five wards — including Ward 3,4,5,7 and 11 — do not have an incumbent candidate.
Hume sees potential in having new faces at the helm of city hall, telling CTV News London, “In 1997 the first year that I ran, half of council were rookies. That turned out to be an outstanding council because we had the courage to face problems and come up with innovative ideas.”
For the third consecutive municipal election, there is no incumbent trying to return to the mayor’s office.
Ed Holder announced he would be retiring from politics after this term.
The mayor’s race includes a mix of political newcomers and familiar faces:
- Brandon Ellis
- Daniel Jeffery
- Daniel Lenart
- Norman Robert Miles
- Josh Morgan
- Carlos Murray
- Johanne Nichols
- Sean O’Connell
- Sandie Thomas
- Khalil Ramal
The full list of candidates can be found on the City of London website.
Voters go to the polls Oct. 24.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.