It looks like the majority of Guelph City Council plans on running again in this year’s municipal election.
GuelphToday contacted all 13 members of council. Eight said they intend on running with one saying they will “probably run.”
Three councillors said they haven’t yet decided and one councillor said they wouldn’t be announcing their intentions until registration for candidates opens.
Guelph’s municipal election isn’t until Oct. 22 and candidates can register between May 1 and July 27.Mayor Cam Guthrie previously stated he "absolutely" plans on running in 2018 and councillors Phil Allt, June Hofland, Mike Salisbury, Cathy Downer, Leanne Piper, Christine Billings and Mark MacKinnon all said that at this point the plan is to run again.
Coun. James Gordon said he would “probably” be running.
Councillors Bob Bell, Dan Gibson and Andy Van Hellemond said they have not yet made up their mind.
Coun. Karl Wettstein said he would announce his intentions on May 1.
Several of those planning to run again said they are motivated by some unfinished business they want to see completed.“There are a number of issues I want to see through, such as the new library and the Clair Road/Maltby Road Secondary plan,” said Ward 5’s Cathy Downer.
“I think it’s imperative to keep moving the city forward in the right direction and I just want to continue to correct some of the mistakes that were done in the past,” said Ward 4’s Christine Billings. “We’ve still got a little bit more to go. Essentially that’s why.”
Ward 1’s Bob Bell said that when he initially decided to run for council it was because he felt he could do a better job. Now he said he’s interested in seeing who wants to run in Ward 1 before he decides.
“If someone else puts their name in as a candidate who is good I don’t think I’ll run, but if someone good doesn’t put their name in, then I don’t mind (running),” he said.
“I don’t mind. I enjoy doing stuff, like the Speedvale underpass. I’d worked on that a long time and there’s still other things I’d like to get done.”
Ward 3’s Allt said there are positives and negatives that come with the job but he finds himself quite engaged.
“As far as I know I’m running,” Allt said, one of three councillors who said they still have to talk about the final decision with their spouses.
MacKinnon in Ward 6 said running again is “part of the plan.”
In the 2014 municipal election, a total of 37 people ran for councillor, with the most being in Ward 4, where nine people ran. No ward had fewer than five candidates.
Seven candidates ran for mayor in 2014.
Ward 2’s Van Hellemond said “not sure” when asked if he was running.
“I haven’t given it much thought,” said Van Hellemond, pointing out it’s a big time commitment and that he turns 70 in February.
“I think we’ve got some good young people in there on council now doing good things,” Van Hellemond said.
