Osam Ali arrived at London City Hall with just over an hour left before the filing deadline to officially enter the race as a city council candidate in Ward 8. The software engineer decided to run after noticing only two other candidates competing to represent the west-end ward. He expressed his intention to give his best effort as a candidate and, if elected, to serve the city effectively.
Several last-minute candidates, including Ali, submitted their nomination papers before the 2 p.m. deadline for the upcoming local elections on Oct. 26. Having previously finished sixth in the ward in 2018, Ali views running for office as a responsibility to the London community and aims to contribute to civic engagement and enhance the city’s standing in the region.
Another candidate, Paul Gray, also filed his candidacy papers close to the deadline, seeking to represent multiple Thames Valley District School Board wards. Gray, who emphasized school safety and academic improvements, expressed optimism about his chances in this second run for the position despite the current limitations faced by school board trustees following provincial intervention earlier this year.
A total of 69 candidates are vying for 14 city council seats, with 12 candidates competing for the mayoral position. This marks an increase from the previous election year, where there were 61 council candidates and 10 mayoral candidates. The full list of candidates can be viewed on the official election website.