Ottawa’s municipal elections are just starting to ramp up but by Friday evening Rideau-Jock Coun. David Brown was already celebrating.
He is one of two council members to keep his seat after no one else submitted a candidacy in his ward before the Friday afternoon deadline, meaning he is now elected by acclamation.
It is the first time that has happened in Ottawa since 2003. River ward Coun. Riley Brockington was also acclaimed.
Brown said he was shocked no one else put their name forward.
“There was a lot of adrenaline today, and I had a knot in my stomach through most of the day, not knowing what would ultimately happen.” he said.
Richmond residents pleased
For constituents of Rideau-Jock, Brown’s acclamation means one fewer decision at the ballot box this fall, leaving them to focus on the mayoralty and school board trustees.
“I am happy with our councillor, so I don’t see that as a problem,” said Heather Mortimer, a long-time resident of Richmond, which is in Rideau-Jock ward.
“It’ll give me more time to invest in researching the other people who are campaigning.”
As to why no one else put their name forward, she wonders if it could be due to how politicians are treated.
“People are a lot more apprehensive about stepping into politics right now,” she said, citing threats to politicians at all levels of government.
Another resident, Jeff Cobill, had a simpler explanation for the lack of candidates.
“If there was like a whole bunch of issues and then people would run against him, but if people are happy, maybe everyone’s just happy,” he said.
Brown is a popular councillor, Cobill said: “He responds right away to resident’s concerns.”
The rural ward is an agricultural and farming community, which resident Joanna Van Gaal said Brown understands well.
“He knows the area. He understands the farmers,” she said.
Work just getting started
Brown’s win marks the starting line, not the finish, for him and his team, he said.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to keep moving our priorities forward, not only in our ward, but for rural Ottawa as well.”
While he will not need to win over voters to keep his seat, Brown said he will still canvass the community to hear their needs.
“I’m going to be hosting town halls in the fall. I’m still going to be door knocking, which is something I do every year anyway.”
He hopes it will give the ward a leg up when council starts work.
Still knocking doors
River Ward’s Riley Brockington said right up to Friday’s deadline he expected to face at least one challenger.
Nonetheless, he’s still planning to mail his constituents a four-page platform and meet as many as possible.
“I still plan to knock on 20,000 doors in the next two months,” he said. “I want to connect and get a new set of marching orders from my residents.”
Election day is Oct. 26, following a mail-in ballot period between Sept. 1 and 15.
Advance voting is from Oct. 1 to 4, and again on Oct. 16.
Special ballots must be received before 8 p.m. on Oct. 16 to be counted.