The 39-year-old civil servant and single mother of two had already collected the 25 signatures needed, but it wasn’t until Friday afternoon at 1:26 p.m., sitting in her home in Findlay Creek, that she decided to do it. “I looked at the GPS and it said I’ll be there in 1:59 and I think I still have time,” Alsalihiy said. The deadline was 2 p.m Indeed, Alsalihiy slipped into the city office on Cyrville Road just as elections officer Michèle Rochette pulled into the parking lot, shouting to anyone within earshot that nominations were about to close. And once the doors were locked, anyone who left the building would not be allowed to return. This caused Alsalihiy to momentarily panic, who thought she had left her ID in the car, but somehow ended up having the required documents. He said people should just “trust the universe” and themselves. She is now running in Riverside South-Findlay Creek. Zainab Alsalihiy left her home in Findlay Creek at 1:26 p.m. on Friday, and was the last person to meet the 2 p.m. deadline to register for the fall election. (Kate Porter/CBC) Alsalihiy was the last person to register to run in this fall’s municipal elections, but almost the only one to leave that decision to the last minute. Two dozen people walked through the doors of the Ottawa election office Friday. Nineteen-year-old Jacob Solomon registered to run for mayor, bringing the total number of competitors for the position to 14. This long list of candidates means that for the first time municipal election ballots will have to be printed on legal-length paper. Josh Rachlis had his 25 required signatures ready – but he didn’t know which position he wanted to run for. He decided as a school board trustee as he sat in the polling station waiting room. And then there’s Kim Leclerc. He worked in federal politics for years and wanted to run for office, but wasn’t sure the time was right for his young family. In fact, his wife had a baby earlier this week, but he insisted on signing up because he always talked about how he wanted to make a difference. So, after their postpartum doctor’s visit this morning, Leclerc ran to get the rest of the signatures he needed and collect his paperwork, before arriving at the office after lunch. “It was a crazy day,” he said. Leclerc is now the 10th person to run in the Rideau-Vanier, the most of any division. Ultimately, 210 people registered to run in the Oct. 24 election: 14 for mayor, 106 for councilors and 90 for school board trustees. Eight candidates for both Francophone school boards have been identified.
1st open mayoral race in a decade
This will be the first election in over a decade where the name Jim Watson will not appear on the ballot. But other familiar names will be. Former mayor Bob Chiarelli, current K. Catherine McKenney and local broadcaster Mark Sutcliffe are among the 14 candidates running for mayor. (From the campaign websites of Bob Chiarelli, Catherine McKenney and Mark Sutcliffe) Former mayor and Liberal cabinet minister Bob Chiarelli registered to run on the first day nominations opened, May 2. He has since promised to freeze property taxes and spending through 2023 if elected. Current district Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney (who uses their/their pronouns) has spent the summer campaigning to make Ottawa the greenest, healthiest and “most connected” city in Canada, “where everyone has a home.” Their full platform is expected after Labor Day. Well known broadcaster and entrepreneur Mark Sutcliffe; entered the race just before Canada Day. He promises a safer city by providing “adequate” funding to police, firefighters and paramedics and being “tough on the causes of crime”. He also promises to keep taxes and leisure fees “as low as possible”. They are also registered for the mayoral race Brandon BrayZed Chebib, Bernard Couchman, Celine Debassiz, Gregory Guevara, Noor Kanri, Graham McDonald, Mike Maguire, Come on Olumidis, Param Singh and previously mentioned Solomon.
Rick Chiarelli is not a College prospect
In 2020, the city council and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark both called for Rick Chiarelli to resign, but he refused. Now, for the first time in nearly four decades, Chiarelli will not be running for public office. .
Ottawa councilors vote unanimously to call for Chiarelli’s resignation
Councilors expressed disgust and sadness Wednesday at reports of Mr. Rick Chiarelli’s behavior toward his former employees before they voted unanimously to impose the stiffest penalties for his enforcement. In a statement from his office in June, Chiarelli said he expected to run for re-election and had given an appointment for late Thursday. But he didn’t show up for that appointment and didn’t register on the last day of registration either. In 2020, Chiarelli’s pay was suspended for 450 days due to conduct that the city’s then-integrity commissioner determined was sexual harassment. Since then the College department advisor has faced new shocking allegations, but because the current integrity commissioner’s investigation was not completed until Friday, it must be put on hold for the duration of the election campaign. And since Chiarelli is not a candidate, it’s unclear whether it will be completed.
At least 12 new faces
The fact that someone new will replace Watson – Ottawa’s longest-serving mayor – makes this race one of the most importantly for over a decade. But when you consider that almost half the faces around the council table will be different, 2022 is shaping up to be a real election of change. Of the 25 seats that will make up next term’s council – the Barrhaven East ward is added to represent the fast-growing community – at least 12 will be newcomers. Incumbents not running again, besides Chiarelli, include Rideau-Vanier’s Mathieu FleuryEli El-Chantiry at West-Carleton March; Diane Deans Gloucester-Southgate, Jan Harder in what will be called Barrhaven West, Keith Egley of Knoxdale-Merivale, Scott Moffat of the Rideau Jock Wing and John Cloutier in Alta Vista. With McKenney running for mayor, Somerset will also elect a new representative. And one-term councilor Carol Anne Meehan had originally planned to run again in Gloucester-South Nepean, but retired at the end of last monthsaying it’s time to check off the items on her “bucket list”. City Clerk Rick O’Connor, left, and election program director Rhiannon Power review all 210 nomination applications. The clerk certified them all by Friday afternoon, meaning those names will be on the ballot even if the candidates change their minds. (Kate Porter/CBC)
Lame ducks and postal ballots
Town Clerk Rick O’Connor was able to certify all 210 nomination forms by Friday afternoon, meaning all of those names will be on the ballot in the fall, even if candidates change their minds about wanting the position. O’Connor also sent a memo Friday night to remind the city council that they are now operating under so-called “lame duck” provisions. Because so many incumbents do not return, the municipality cannot make new expenditures or sell land worth more than $50,000. Some of the district boundaries will change for the 2022 election and Rochette recommends that residents double-check which district they live in by entering their address using Election Ottawa’s “Who’s running on my wing?’ online tool. For the first time, Ottawa voters will be able to vote by mail. The city first tested it during the 2020 Cumberland primary and is rolling it out across the city this year. Residents will need to apply for a special vote, which they will be able to do between September 1 and 16 once the electoral roll is finalised. For those voting in person, there will be six days of early voting starting later in September, in addition to Election Day on October 24.
