The following article appeared in the July 21 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
There will be no shortage of familiar names on the ballot in the Oct. 25 municipal election.
But with just three months to go, not many challengers have yet emerged from the woodwork.
In four of the city’s six wards, the only declared candidates so far are incumbents.
There will be a race in Ward 2, with former councillor Ray Ferraro throwing his hat in last month to challenge incumbents Vicki Beard and Ian Findlay, who had both already submitted their papers.
Former councillor David Birtwistle is so far the only challenger to Mayor Karen Farbridge, who has announced her intention to run again.
But the real action so far is in Ward 1, which encompasses the downtown and much of the east end. Seven challengers — including former councillors Sean Farrelly and Gary Walton — have registered in Ward 1.
Incumbent Kathleen Farrelly — Sean’s mom — has announced she will not seek to retain her seat after serving a single term. The other incumbent, Bob Bell, said Tuesday he has not yet decided whether to throw his hat in the ring again.
“I did notice there are more people running in Ward 1 than in all the other wards combined,” Bell laughed. “Ward 1 is the big prize, I guess.”
Bell is also the Green Party of Canada’s candidate of record in Guelph, and is watching the federal landscape to see how it impacts his local aspirations.
“If I’m running in the municipal election I obviously can’t run in the federal election at the same time,” Bell said.
The only other incumbents missing from the list of declared candidates as of Tuesday afternoon were Christine Billings and Mike Salisbury.
Billings could not be reached for comment, but Salisbury said he will officially enter the race likely by the end of this week.
“I have every intention of running,” Salisbury said. “I’ve just been so busy I haven’t filed the papers yet.”
Who’s in so far? (as of Tuesday afternoon)
Mayor:
• David Birtwistle
• Karen Farbridge
Ward 1:
• Peter Bortolon
• Allan Boynton
• Sean Farrelly
• Eugene Gromczynski
• Linda Murphy
• Russell Ott
• Gary Walton
Ward 2:
• Vicki Beard
• Ray Ferraro
• Ian Findlay
Ward 3:
• June Hofland
• Maggie Laidlaw
Ward 4:
• Gloria Kovach
Ward 5:
• Lise Burcher
• Leanne Piper
Ward 6:
• Karl Wettstein