Will appointment of Ward 6 councillor reflect internal city hall politics or wishes of constituents?
City council risks entering a political minefield choosing a new Ward 6 councillor from a list of 21 applicants.
The list includes a cross section of Londoners including former politicians, members of municipal boards, and community-minded residents.
“Trying to fill a vacancy like this raises all sorts of questions about legitimacy,” explains Fanshawe College political scientist Matt Farrell. “We’re going to have some councillors who were elected, one appointed, and now one through this selection process.”
Council is poised to make its choice on Monday, leaving residents of Ward 6 only days to express their preferences.
“People are potentially left out of that process altogether,” warns Farrell.
“I think they should discuss it with the people,” Anurag Bhattacharjee told CTV News while walking through his Cherryhill neighbourhood.
“For me, I have to see more than I have now,” said Ward 6 resident John Aoyor.
Of the 21 applications, nine indicated a desire to run in next fall’s municipal election, eight will not run, and four were unsure.
An important factor in the decision will be diversity.
City hall strives to have local government reflect the diversity found in London, however, the candidates have not been asked if their appointment would enhance the diversity of council.
Applicants were only asked for their qualifications, why they want to be the Ward 6 Councillor, and whether they intend to run in next fall’s municipal election.
“It is a very limited bit of information that people have been asked for, so you wonder what is going to be considered,” adds Farrell.
The ward includes Old North, Western University, and Cherryhill, but candidates can live outside those neighborhoods.
Last month, Phil Squire vacated the Ward 6 seat on council in order to accept an appointment to a provincial board.
Council members will choose from the list of applicants at a special committee meeting on Nov. 15.
The applicants are:
- Mike Bloxam
- Nancy Branscombe
- Shiv Chokhani
- Omar El Naggar
- Jacob Gal
- Mariam Hamou
- Tariq Khan
- Wajdi Khouri
- Roman Lalich
- Quinin Lang
- Wanda Latuszak
- Lincoln McCardle
- Bronagh Morgan
- Sean M. O’Connell
- Erik Parti
- Matthew Reid
- Susan Slaughter
- Karen Lee Steinmann
- Carmelita Tang
- Stephen Thomson
- Robert James Lloyd Wright
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPs debating second Conservative motion of non-confidence in PM Trudeau
Members of Parliament are debating the second Conservative motion of non-confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government of the week.
Cold case arrest: Nunavut RCMP charge man with murder in 1986 death of teenage girl
Mounties in Nunavut have made an arrest in the murder of a 15-year-old girl almost 40 years ago.
Mounties in B.C. warn 'highly convincing' scammers extorting victims with photos of their homes
Scammers are increasingly using emails to extort money from victims by threatening to reveal compromising photos, videos and personal information to their friends and family members, according to a new warning from Mounties in Metro Vancouver.
Air Canada flight to Toronto diverts due to emergency
An Air Canada flight headed to Toronto from Frankfurt diverted to Edinburgh due to an emergency Thursday, the airline says.
Canadian rapper K'naan charged with sexual assault following arrest in Quebec City
Canadian singer K’naan has been charged with sexual assault after being arrested by police in Quebec City.
WATCH LIVE Helene's winds batter Florida as Category 3 storm races toward the coast
Tropical storm force winds began battering Florida on Thursday as Hurricane Helene prepared to make landfall, with forecasters warning that the enormous storm could create a "nightmare" surge along the coast and churn up damaging winds hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern U.S.
NDP MP introduces bill to criminalize residential school denialism
An NDP MP has introduced a bill that would criminalize residential school denialism, saying it would help stop harm caused toward survivors, their families and communities.
Masking reintroduced in N.S. hospitals as respiratory illnesses increase
A partial masking mandate has returned to Nova Scotia hospitals and provincially run healthcare facilities for visitors and healthcare workers.
Eye drops recalled in Canada over infection risk
A Canadian pharmaceutical company is warning consumers not to use some of its eye drops because of potential microbial growth that may result in eye infections.