2018 Municipal Election

[drpgq]

It is pretty hard to beat an incumbent in the city. I kind of wish that there was provincial legislation so that whoever placed second automatically becomes councillor if the first one resigns even it was within the first month, so that there would be at least some incentive for running against an incumbent.

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by drpgq

It is pretty hard to beat an incumbent in the city. I kind of wish that there was provincial legislation so that whoever placed second automatically becomes councillor if the first one resigns even it was within the first month, so that there would be at least some incentive for running against an incumbent.

I hope there are more changes to the election act to make it easier to challenge an incumbent. I think recent changes help a bit. I am curious what the recent changes will yield.

[durandy]

Well, like Steeltown predicted, many have filed in the past week.

Terry Whitehead is running in the new ward 14. He was apparently upset that is exec assistant is running in ward 8 but decided in the end not to go up against her in ward 8. That leaves a manageable 5 candidates in this open riding.

12 candidates in both of wards 1 and 3 right now. 10 candidates in Skelly's ward 7.

Brad Clark is running against Conley in ward 9.

13 candidates for mayor with many returning from last time.

Wards 2, 4, 5, 6, and 9-15 all have incumbents (if you count Whitehead).

[vid]

Originally Posted by drpgq

It is pretty hard to beat an incumbent in the city. I kind of wish that there was provincial legislation so that whoever placed second automatically becomes councillor if the first one resigns even it was within the first month, so that there would be at least some incentive for running against an incumbent.

Municipal by-laws can determine this. My city had this policy until the last election, when a racist came in 6th in an at-large race for 5 positions, and they eliminated the policy to prevent her from automatically being appointed if one of the at-large councillors died/resigned because they thought by-elections are better.

The only thing that can really clear out incumbents is term limits, and as far as I know our laws don't allow for that. Now that I think of it, the municipal elections act was changed last year to eliminate residency requirements (anyone can now run in any ward whether they live there or not, as long as they live in the municipality) so it might have changed the policy for replacing councillors who step down or die.