The following article appeared in the September 8 edition of the Guelph Tribune:
A well-known local figure has dropped his hat into the ring for the Oct. 25 civic elections, with three days left before the nomination deadline on Friday Sept. 10 at 2 p. m.
Andy Van Hellemond, who spent 25 years as a National Hockey League referee and then eight more in NHL administration before retiring in 2004, filed his nomination papers last Friday morning to run in Ward 2.
“I have the time, I have the energy” to serve on city council, Van Hellemond said in a brief phone interview Friday.
“I feel that I can get involved and hopefully make a difference and improve things,” said the 40-year Guelph resident.
“I think the numbers speak for themselves” in terms of the cost of operating the city now as opposed to four years ago, Van Hellemond said when asked about election issues.
His entry brings to six the number of candidates in Ward 2, including incumbents Vicki Beard and Ian Findlay. Paul Mahony added his name to the list last Thursday. Also running in the ward are Andrew Colwill and former councillor Ray Ferraro.
Wards 4 and 5 still had no challengers to their two incumbents, raising the prospect of as many as four current councillors being re-elected by acclamation.
Ward 6 got a third candidate last Wednesday. Joining incumbents Christine Billings and Karl Wettstein in contesting Ward 6 is Todd Dennis, a south end resident since 2002 and chairman of the Clairfields Neighbourhood Group.
Ward 3 also got a third candidate last week. Joining incumbents June Hofland and Maggie Laidlaw in Ward 3 is Missy Tolton, who filed her papers Thursday.
The most hotly contested ward is Ward 1, which has eight candidates contesting its two seats. The most recent addition is Jim Furfaro, who filed his papers on Aug. 30.
Dennis issued a news release Wednesday after filing his nomination papers for Ward 6, saying that his “focus is on fiscal responsibility and city hall accountability.”
Over the past decade, Dennis has “seen the growth of both Guelph and the political turmoil at city hall,” the release said. “He believes that our elected representatives have not listened to the voices of the taxpayers, but have been led and influenced by a special interest group intent on pushing forward its agenda through selected and chosen candidates.”
Dennis, who has served on some city hall committees, is fleet manager for Cargill, a large employer in Guelph.
At the Wellington Catholic District School Board, none of the six incumbents had filed papers to seek re-election by early Friday afternoon. The only two candidates were Michael Ayotte and Susan Dickert.
At the Upper Grand District School Board, all four of Guelph’s four current trustees are seeking re-election. Mark Bailey, a first-time trustee representing Wards 1, 5 and 6, said Friday that he’ll be running in a smaller new riding made up of Wards 1 and 5, although he hadn’t yet filed his papers. Also vying for this new riding’s two seats are fellow first-time trustee Linda Busuttil and newcomer John Carpenter.
Veteran trustees Susan Moziar and Jennifer Waterston had no challengers, as of early Friday afternoon, for the two seats in the riding made up of Wards 2, 3 and 4.