Kawartha Lakes voters face a crowded field in October’s municipal election

DARRYL KNIGHT, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: Several familiar faces will be back on the ballot this autumn, but voters across Kawartha Lakes will have plenty of new choices to consider, as the municipal election campaign takes shape.

Five candidates are currently seeking the mayor's chair, while all eight council wards feature contested races, ahead of the October 26th election.

The mayoral contest includes current Ward 6 Councillor Ron Ashmore, who is leaving his council seat to make a run for the city's top elected position. He will be joined by Mathew Flynn, Charles McDonald, Doug Ford, and David Korn in the contest.

The move creates an open seat in Ward 6th, where Mary Ann Martin and Jasmine Marshall are competing to become the ward's next councillor.

Several other current councillors, meanwhile, are looking to return to City Hall.

Pat Warren is seeking another term, representing Ward 2, and will face Terry Blackmore, while Mike Perry is running for re-election in Ward 3 against Jim Greensides.

Dan Joyce is also seeking to retain his Ward 4 seat, but faces a three-way challenge from Guru Bhat, Shannon Reddom, and Ron Ross.

In Ward 5, incumbent Mark Doble will face Joseph Abbott. Christopher Rinella, who initially entered that race, withdrew his candidacy, on June 18th.

The most crowded council contest is in Ward 1, where five candidates are vying for the seat. Jennifer Sherry, Don Logan, Brian Bartley, Jennifer Silverthorne-Litton and Vicki Taylor are all on the ballot.

The remaining races are also contested. Liam Bruyn and Eric Smeaton are seeking the Ward 7 seat, while Wyatt Colazzi, Tom Hickey, and Steve Lesperance are competing in Ward 8.

The Ward 7 race changed earlier in the campaign, when Charles McDonald withdrew his candidacy, on June 1st, and subsequently entered the mayoral contest.

The field of candidates will all be campaigning on issues which could shape the direction of Kawartha Lakes over the next four years.

Growth and development, infrastructure, roads, taxation, housing, recreation, economic development, and municipal services are expected to be among the issues receiving attention during the campaign.

Those issues can look very different, depending on where residents live in Kawartha Lakes. Council will have to balance the needs of Lindsay and the municipality's other urban centres with those of smaller communities and rural areas, spread across one of Ontario's largest municipalities, by land area.

The next council will also face decisions surrounding major infrastructure projects, long-term growth planning, and the continued delivery of municipal services across the city's geographically diverse communities.

The mayoral race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests of the election.

Mr. Ashmore enters the race with municipal experience, as a sitting councillor, while Mr. Flynn, Mr. McDonald, Mr. Ford, and Mr. Korn will also be asking voters to support their visions for the city's future.

The mayor serves as head of council and plays a central role in establishing municipal priorities, working with councillors and representing Kawartha Lakes on broader issues.

With five candidates in the running, voters will have several different approaches to consider, before casting their ballots.

Nomination Day is Friday, August 21st, and candidates have until 2 p.m. to file their nomination papers or withdraw from a race.

Once nominations close, the city staff will certify the candidates, and the campaign will move into its final stretch, before voting begins in October.

The municipal election takes place on Monday, October 26th.