The official list of candidates seeking election to the municipal councils in North Grenville and Merrickville-Wolford, as well as for the four School Boards in the region, was finalised last Monday, August 22. The campaign is now on, and stringent rules have come into force concerning how and when candidates can promote themselves to the residents. Candidates and their supporters (or detractors) need to become acquainted with the regulations, in order to avoid legal ramifications.
In North Grenville, two candidates are vying to become the Mayor for the next four years, incumbent Nancy Peckford, and challenger Colleen Lynas. Nine people are in a race for the four Councillor positions, including all four incumbents. A full list of candidates is published in this issue of the Times.
Of the four area School Boards, three incumbents are acclaimed to return to their roles, and it is only the Upper Canada District School Board that will have a contested election, where incumbent, Lisa Swan, is being challenged by Heidi Piper-Ward and John Palmer.
Merrickville-Wolford will also see a contested election for both Mayor and Councillor roles. Incumbent Mayor Doug Struthers is being challenged by the Deputy Mayor, Mike Cameron, as well as by Anne Barr. All three are well-known and experienced in municipal politics and community activism.
The Village is divided into two Wards, one each for Merrickville and Wolford, and these Wards elect members of council to represent them. This year, there are four candidates in each Ward, seeking one of two council positions. The two outgoing representatives for Wolford Ward, Mike Cameron and Stephen Ireland, are seeking re-election, but neither of the outgoing councillors from Merrickville Ward are running again, so those two seats are wide open for newcomers.
In Merrickvlle-Wolford, voting can take place by internet or phone between October 17 and Election Day on October 24, when in-person paper ballots will be available.
Details on internet and phone voting in North Grenville will be available on the municipal website in the coming weeks, and will be published in the Times as they are confirmed. To ensure your name is on the Voter’s List, check out www.voterlookup.ca.
