Two incumbent Ottawa city councillors are set to retain their seats without any challengers ahead of the Friday deadline. River ward Coun. Riley Brockington and Rideau-Jock Coun. David Brown are the sole nominated candidates in their wards, ensuring their re-election once the city clerk finalizes the list of nominations.
City clerk Caitlin Salter MacDonald anticipates confirming the uncontested victories by the end of Friday, making it the first time a city council candidate wins by acclamation since 2003. Voters in these wards can still vote for other positions like mayor, but the ballot will indicate “acclaimed.”
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve Ward 21 residents, Brown stated, “I’ve been dedicated to earning and maintaining the trust of my communities since 2022 by advancing our priorities, but there is more work ahead. I value this trust greatly.”
Initially unopposed, Osgoode Coun. Isabelle Skalski and College ward Coun. Laine Johnson faced last-minute competition as candidates emerged to challenge their positions. Pending any issues with the final list, Bruce Faulkner and Abakar Malloum are now contesting Osgoode and College ward, respectively.
With a total of 85 candidates now running for city council, the current count is lower than the 107 candidates in the 2022 election. This time, almost all incumbent councillors are seeking re-election, leaving only two open races in Kitchissippi and Stittsville.
The mayoral race expanded with new registrations on Friday, adding contenders including Bernard Couchman, Geoff Nicholas, Josh Rachlis, Ali Shayvard, Jacob Solomon, and Amjad Syed. The total number of mayoral candidates, vying for Mark Sutcliffe’s position, now stands at 14 pending proper filing.
Candidates have already begun outlining their platforms, with policy announcements made by Jeff Leiper, Alex Lawson, and Neil Saravanamuttoo on various topics such as transit and housing. Sutcliffe also introduced his own transit plan this week.
Endorsements are also rolling in, with several prominent figures backing Sutcliffe’s campaign, including ex-cabinet ministers John Baird and Madeleine Meilleur. The campaigns are actively seeking support from various political figures and leaders to bolster their candidacy.
Voters will select 24 city councillors on election day, scheduled for October 26. Opportunities for early voting and special mail-in ballots will be available to ensure maximum participation in the electoral process.