It’s more of the same on Essa Township’s next council.
When nominations closed Friday at 2 p.m., incumbent Sandie Macdonald was the only candidate for mayor and will begin serving a second term of office this fall.
Ditto for Deputy Mayor Michael Smith, who was also unopposed.
But there will be election races in each of Essa’s three wards.
In Ward 1, incumbent Pieter Kiezebrink is being challenged by Francesco Lo Greco.
Three people want to be the next Ward 2 councillor — incumbent Henry Sander, Paul Partridge and Shawn Bubel.
And in Ward 3, incumbent Ron Henderson is opposed by Liana Maltby.
In accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, the clerk will certify the candidates prior to 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 22.
For more information, visit essatownship.on.ca/council-
Springwater Township
Springwater Township’s next council will have some new faces following the Oct. 24 municipal election.
With Mayor Don Allen not seeking re-election, three people are running for the mayor’s chair.
They are Deputy Mayor Jennifer Coughlin, Ward 2 Coun. Perry Ritchie and Bill Haight.
Ward 3 Coun. Wanda Maw-Chapman, Ward 1 Coun. George Cabral and Dennis Gannon are the candidates for deputy-mayor.
In Ward 1, Matt Garwood, Francis Horgan and Janette O’Neill-Scott are running for Cabral’s seat.
Danielle Alexander is acclaimed in Ward 2 to take Ritchie’s seat.
In Ward 3, the candidates are Brad Thompson, Cory Mainprize and Hale Mahon.
Incumbent Anita Moore is being challenged by Linda Smith in Ward 4.
And with Jack Hanna not seeking re-election in Ward 5, the candidates are Phil Fisher and Dominika Zapolnik.
In accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, the clerk will certify the candidates prior to 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 22.
For more information, visit springwater.ca/en/township-
Oro-Medonte
There will be a battle for the top job in Oro-Medonte.
Incumbent Mayor Harry Hughes is seeking his fifth straight term at the township’s helm. He was acclaimed in 2014, but eked out a narrow victory in 2018 against rivals John Crawford and Sandy Agnew. This time around, he’ll be facing Randy Greenlaw, who is wrapping up his first term as Ward 5 councillor.
There will be other changes around the council table as this time around, no deputy mayor will be elected. Instead, the township has decided to move from five wards to six wards.
In Ward 1, Zoe Rowe-Watson and Lori Hutchison are seeking to represent the area’s constituents. Incumbent Ian Veitch decided not to seek re-election.
In Ward 2, incumbent Tammy DeSousa is being challenged by John Bard and Eric Pattenden.
Incumbent Cathy Keane is seeking re-election in Ward 3 against David Clark and Sean Power.
In Ward 4, incumbent Shawn Scott will be looking to return to the council table. He is being opposed by Peter Lavoie.
In Ward 5, Rick Schell, Ryan McKnight and Gene Stein are hoping to win the seat vacated by Greenlaw.
In the new Ward 6, Mikhaela Beerman, Robert Ryan Cardwell and Robert J. Young are vying for the opportunity to serve constituents.
— With files from Dave Dawson
