Bob Chiarelli, 80, began his mayoral campaign by registering at the city’s polling station Monday morning. Chiarelli was elected mayor of the merged city of Ottawa in 2000 and served two terms before losing the 2006 election. He is also a veteran of provincial politics, serving as a Liberal cabinet minister. “I do not do it to satisfy my selfishness or to complete my resume in any way, shape or form,” Chiarelli told CTV News on Monday afternoon. “I am a citizen like any other citizen and I think there is a strong consensus between us that many things in the town hall are moving in the wrong direction.” Chiarelli singled out the city’s growing debt, LRT issues and the city’s response to the Freedom Convoy protests in February as issues he believes the current council could have handled better. “City councilors are very divided on many issues and do not work together as a team,” he said. Monday is the first day that mayoral candidates, city councilors and school board administrators can submit their candidacies to run in the 2022 municipal elections on October 24. approved by the city. There will be a new mayor and at least seven new councilors at Ottawa City Hall after the election. Jim Watson has announced that he will not run for re-election after three terms as mayor of the Canadian capital. Watson was first elected mayor of the merged city of Ottawa in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 and 2018. Councilors Diane Deans and Catherine McKenney both announced in December that they would run for mayor. Chiarelli, when asked why he is again a candidate for the city’s top job at his age, said it was up to the voters if that mattered. “This is something that voters have to decide,” he said. “We have six months. There is a campaign with a lot of energy, I have a lot of ideas on how to solve some problems, some new initiatives to promote … this will be decided by the public.” Four councilors have said they will not run for re-election – Jean Cloutier, Keith Egli, Jan Harder and Scott Moffatt. And a new councilor will sit at the council table this election as Ottawa adds a 24th wing to deal with the growing population. The new wing is “Ward 24 – Barrhaven East”. Mayoral candidates, city councilors and school councilors have until Friday, August 19, to submit their application forms. Some councilors were ready on Monday to register for re-election. “In my mind, these are the four years of real fiscal responsibility we need to maintain,” said Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Turney. Shawn Menard, an adviser to Capital Ward, said he would like to see more accountability in the next term. “At the end of the day there was a lot of positive traffic in some files,” he said. “We have to continue this work, but make sure that there is good discussion and responsibility and I do not think we have seen it so much this term and I really hope that the next term of the council will change.” Rebecca Bromwich, also a candidate at Capital Ward, said she could help bring a level of decency to the boardroom. “I am a mediator in training and I think I can bring a level of professionalism and decency and collectivity.” Brandon Bay, who is running for mayor, says housing is a key issue. “The top of the mind I think for many residents and for me is the price of housing right now,” he said. This election will also be the first where voters across the city will be able to use ballot papers by mail to vote. “This is an opportunity for any voter who may not feel comfortable going to a polling station or simply prefer this voting method to sign up and receive their special ballot by mail,” said the director of municipal elections and services. French language Michele. Rochette.
