Two incumbent city councillors in Ottawa are set to retain their positions as no challengers emerged before the deadline on Friday afternoon. This development means that Riley Brockington in River ward and David Brown in Rideau-Jock ward are the sole nominated candidates in their respective areas, ensuring their re-election once the city clerk finalizes the list of nominations.
City clerk Caitlin Salter MacDonald aims to confirm the uncontested elections by the end of Friday. She mentioned that this would be the first time a city council candidate wins by acclamation since 2003. Voter ballots in those wards will display “acclaimed” for the city council position, allowing them to vote for other offices like mayor.
Expressing gratitude, Brown stated, “I’m humbled and deeply honoured by the opportunity to continue serving the residents of Ward 21.” He emphasized his commitment to advancing community priorities and earning trust.
Initially unopposed, Isabelle Skalski in Osgoode and Laine Johnson in College ward faced last-minute competition as candidates appeared at the election office to challenge them. Pending any issues with the final list, Bruce Faulkner and Abakar Malloum emerged as additional candidates for Osgoode and College ward, respectively.
With a total of at least 85 candidates now running for city council, the current figure falls below the 107 candidates in the previous election. Nearly all incumbent councillors are seeking re-election this time, except for two.
The mayoral candidate list expanded on Friday with new registrations from Bernard Couchman, Geoff Nicholas, Josh Rachlis, Ali Shayvard, Jacob Solomon, and Amjad Syed. This brings the total number of contenders vying for the mayoral position up to 14, pending proper filings.
Shayvard, a democratic socialist candidate inspired by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, had to wait until the last minute to register due to work commitments. Solomon faced a last-minute issue with his nomination papers but managed to resolve it in time. The mayoral race is shaping up with various candidates making policy announcements on key issues.
Endorsements have started coming in for candidates, with notable figures backing their campaigns. Sutcliffe secured endorsements from former officials like John Baird, Madeleine Meilleur, and Mathieu Fleury, among others. Leiper’s campaign has received support from NDP MPPs, while Lawson and Saravanamuttoo await official endorsements.
The upcoming election on October 26 will see voters electing 24 city councillors. The majority of incumbents are seeking re-election, with only two wards, Kitchissippi and Stittsville, guaranteeing new representatives. Early voting opportunities will be available before the election day.
