Nine candidates in midwestern Ontario are ready to take on four-year terms as mayor or reeve without needing a vote, after the municipal election nomination deadline passed on Friday.
A review by CKNXNews Today. ca of the final unofficial candidate lists across 35 municipalities in Bruce, Grey, Huron, and Perth counties and northern Wellington revealed nine head-of-council positions with just one candidate each. The candidates haven’t been officially acclaimed yet.
Municipal clerks have until 4 p. m. Monday to check and certify nominations. If a candidate remains the sole certified nominee for an office, they can then be declared elected by acclamation.
The current situation shows a notable shift from earlier during the nomination period.
A look on August 11 found only 19 of the region’s 35 municipalities had contested races for mayor or reeve, leaving 16 top spots with just one candidate at that time.
A wave of last-minute nominations created new contests in several communities, but nine positions still remain uncontested after Friday’s deadline.
In Grey and Bruce counties, three incumbent mayors are set to return without going before voters.
Chris Peabody is the lone candidate for mayor in Brockton, Sue Carleton has no opposition in Georgian Bluffs, and Kevin Eccles is the only candidate running for mayor in West Grey.
Huron County has three uncontested head-of-council roles, including two that will see someone stepping into a new position as mayor.
Central Huron Deputy Mayor Marg Anderson is the only person running to replace Mayor Jim Ginn, while Howick Councillor Doug Hargrave stands alone in his bid for reeve.
Morris-Turnberry Mayor Jamie Heffer also faces no opponents. If confirmed, this would mark Heffer’s third straight term won by acclamation. He was previously acclaimed as mayor in both 2018 and 2022.
Two municipalities in Perth County are also looking at acclamations for their mayors. North Perth Deputy Mayor Doug Kellum is running unopposed for mayor. He’s been part of North Perth council for 16 years, including eight years as deputy mayor; now he’s ready to succeed Mayor Todd Kasenberg without an election process.
Perth South Mayor Sue Orr is also unopposed. Orr took over as mayor in December 2024 after Mayor Jim Aitcheson passed away. An acclamation would grant her first full term without having to go through an election.
In northern Wellington, Minto Mayor Dave Turton is the only contender aiming for the top job. This would be Turton’s second consecutive acclamation after he ran unchallenged back in 2022.
A number of other municipal roles across the area are likely to be filled by acclamation as well.
In Grey-Bruce, deputy mayor candidates who face no opposition include Scott Greig in Owen Sound, Barbara Dobreen in Southgate, Grant Pringle in Georgian Bluffs, Jennifer Shaw in Arran-Elderslie, and James Hanna in Huron-Kinloss.
Robert Uhrig stands alone as the deputy mayor candidate in Meaford while Rory Cavanagh runs unopposed for deputy mayor position in Kincardine.
Central Huron has David Jewitt as its single candidate for deputy mayor; Nicholas Vink is also running alone for deputy mayor in West Perth.
The official certified lists of candidates 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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