Nine individuals in midwestern Ontario are set to win four-year terms as mayor or reeve without any voting taking place, following the municipal election nomination deadline on Friday.
A review by CKNXNews Today. ca of the final unofficial candidate lists across 35 municipalities in Bruce, Grey, Huron, and Perth counties as well as northern Wellington has revealed nine head-of-council positions with only one candidate each. The candidates have not yet been officially acclaimed.
Municipal clerks have until 4 p. m. on Monday to check and confirm nominations. Candidates who are the only certified nominee for a position can then be declared elected by acclamation.
The current situation shows a notable change from earlier in the nomination process.
A review conducted on August 11 found that only 19 out of the region’s 35 municipalities had contested races for mayor or reeve, leaving 16 top roles with just one candidate at that time.
A wave of late nominations has led to new races forming in several areas, but nine positions remain uncontested after Friday’s deadline.
In Grey and Bruce counties, three incumbent mayors are likely to return without having to face voters.
Chris Peabody is the sole candidate for mayor in Brockton, Sue Carleton is unopposed in Georgian Bluffs, and Kevin Eccles stands alone as the mayoral candidate in West Grey.
Huron County features three uncontested head-of-council roles, including two where a new person will step into the municipality’s top job.
Central Huron Deputy Mayor Marg Anderson is the only individual running to replace Mayor Jim Ginn, while Howick Councillor Doug Hargrave is unopposed for reeve.
Morris-Turnberry Mayor Jamie Heffer also faces no opposition. If confirmed, this would be Heffer’s third consecutive term won by acclamation. He was previously acclaimed mayor in both 2018 and 2022.
Two municipalities in Perth County are also heading toward acclamations for their mayors. North Perth Deputy Mayor Doug Kellum is running unopposed for mayor. He has been part of North Perth council for 16 years, serving as deputy mayor for the last eight years, and now he’s set to succeed Mayor Todd Kasenberg without an election.
Perth South Mayor Sue Orr is also running unopposed. Orr took over as mayor in December 2024 after the passing of Mayor Jim Aitcheson. An acclamation would give Orr her first full term without needing to face an election for this position.
In northern Wellington, Minto Mayor Dave Turton is again standing alone for his role. This would mark Turton’s second consecutive acclamation after he ran unopposed back in 2022.
Additionally, several other municipal positions throughout the area seem likely to be filled by acclamation as well.
In Grey-Bruce, uncontested deputy mayor candidates include Scott Greig from Owen Sound, Barbara Dobreen from Southgate, Grant Pringle from Georgian Bluffs, Jennifer Shaw from Arran-Elderslie, and James Hanna from Huron-Kinloss.
Robert Uhrig is also running solo as deputy mayor candidate in Meaford while Rory Cavanagh stands unopposed for deputy mayor in Kincardine.
Central Huron has only David Jewitt vying for deputy mayor; meanwhile Nicholas Vink is alone on West Perth’s list for deputy mayor candidacy.
The official certified candidate lists along with declarations of acclamation are expected from municipal clerks sometime late Monday afternoon.
The municipal election will take place on October 26.
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