Seventeen candidates are competing for 11 spots on the West Perth council during the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 26.
Nominations were submitted on Aug. 21, which was the last day to declare candidacies for the next four-year term, and there were a few surprises along the way.
Current Deputy Mayor W. Dean Trentowsky and former deputy mayor Doug Eidt, who challenged Mc Kenzie in the last election, are both running for mayor. Meanwhile, longtime Hibbert councillor Nicholas Vink will face off against current Hibbert councillor Andrew Fournier for the deputy mayor position after Fournier chose to run against him instead of pursuing one of two councillor seats in the Hibbert Ward.
Cheri Bell, a longtime councillor who lost to Trentowsky four years ago in the deputy mayor race, along with former mayor Walter Mc Kenzie, are also running in the Hibbert Ward. Mc Kenzie had previously announced he wouldn’t seek re-election as mayor after 12 years but decided to run for a councillor seat instead. He initially filed as a candidate in Mitchell but switched to Hibbert just days before the deadline. Joining Bell and Mc Kenzie is newcomer Landon Smith, whose father Jerry is running for mayor in nearby Perth East.
The Logan Ward features three candidates aiming for two positions: incumbent Ryan Duck and newcomers Stephanie Siemon and Lisa Rapien. Incumbent Diane Chessell has opted not to run again.
In Mitchell Ward, where three seats are up for grabs, five candidates have come forward: incumbents Phillip O’Donnell and Murray Rose along with newcomers Jim Gaffney, Ben Davey, and Michelle Dennis. Incumbent Doug Feltz will not be seeking re-election either.
No competition is expected in Fullarton Ward since incumbents Steve Herold and Alex Foster have been acclaimed for another four-year term.
Sheila Marshall and Ginny Rolph are campaigning for local trustee positions with the Avon Maitland District school board while Mary Helen Van Loon seeks reelection as trustee chair with the Huron Perth Catholic District school board against newcomer Derek Van De Walle.
An all-candidates meeting will take place on Thursday, Oct. 15 at the community centre in Mitchell organized by both the Mitchell Lions Club and Rotary Club of Mitchell. Candidates will speak briefly and respond to written questions from attendees that evening.
Rachid Barrima is running unopposed for a position on the French-language public school board needing certification in London; Michael Salvatore holds a position with the French-language separate school board requiring certification in Sarnia.
Advance voting runs from Oct. 19 through Oct. 25 with Monday, Oct. 26 marked as official election day.
Stay tuned for detailed coverage of this election and its candidates in future editions of The Advocate.
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