Fifty candidates registered for council elections
September 24, 2006

With a little less than a week to go until the close of nominations, 50 people have already stepped forward as candidates in the November 13 elections for mayor or city councillor. At this point, 37 people are running for trustee on either the public or catholic school boards.

In the council races, there is more than one candidate for all but three of the available positions. Sitting councillors Maria Pearson in ward 10 and Chad Collins in ward 5 are unopposed at this point. Robert Pasuta is the only registered candidate in Flamborough's ward 15 where incumbent Dave Braden has thrown his hat into the mayoralty race. However, city employee Grant Maloney earlier announced that he will register before nominations close on Friday afternoon.

Wards without an incumbent have attracted the largest number of candidates. There are now six nominated for Bill Kelly's ward 7 seat, and five for Murray Ferguson's empty position in Ancaster. The position being vacated in Dundas by Art Samson has attracted four contenders. Two incumbents – Terry Whitehead in ward 8 and Bob Bratina in ward 2 – are also in four-person races. Eight people have registered to run for mayor.

There are already more candidates for public school trustee than ran in 2003, and so far only two of the eleven seats could be filled by acclamation. One of those is Judith Bishop who was also unopposed in the last election. The other is Jessica Brennan, also an incumbent. Altogether, 24 people are running for public school trustee. That's already two more than stood in the 2003 election.

Interest in a position on the catholic school board is muted with only two contested seats at this point – in the combined ward one and two seat, and in ward five. And there are only two contenders in each of those races. The other nine seats on the catholic board could be filled by acclamation if no one else steps forward this week. Seven catholic board trustees were acclaimed in 2003.

Fifty-nine people ran for mayor or council in 2003. The only acclamation in that election was Dave Mitchell in Glanbrook. This fall, he is facing at least two opponents. Candidates have until 5 pm on Friday to register, and may withdraw up until 5 pm the following Monday. The filing fee is $100 for a councillor or trustee position, and $200 to run for mayor.

Any Hamilton resident who is a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old can be a candidate unless specifically disqualified. Payment of the filing is required at the time of nomination, along with proof of identify and residency. Procedures and a list of registered candidates can be found on the city's website.