New provincial regulations are changing the way council-seeking candidates grapple with municipal elections.
Kim Zippel announced her intention to run in Otonabee Ward beginning May 1; a careful distinction, given the new set of rules.
Changes to the Municipal Elections Act mean that no one can start campaigning until the spring.
City clerk John Kennedy said it makes for a shortened election season.
“The nomination period has been reduced. In the past elections, a candidate could submit their nomination papers between January and September,” Kennedy said. “That timeline has now been reduced from May 1 to July 27.”
That isn’t the only change for candidates.
There are new rules governing how much candidates can spend on their own campaigns, and how much individuals can donate.
Corporations and unions are also no longer able to contribute directly to a candidate. Instead, they’ll have to register as a third-party advertiser.
“With that, there will be limits on spending, they’re also going to be required to submit documentation of their expenses following the election,” Kennedy said.
Zippel isn’t the only person to announce an intent to run. Town ward incumbent Dean Pappas has said he’ll file his nomination papers on May 1, and reports indicate former NDP candidate Steven Soos has said he aims to run in Peterborough’s south end.
Zippel said Wednesday’s announcement was part of being transparent and letting other potential candidates know what she was thinking so they could strategize accordingly.
“I think announcing an intention is a fair thing to do, and it opens it up for other people to make their decisions and their plans,” she said.
This isn’t Zippel’s first election. She ran against incumbents Lesley Parnell and Dan McWilliams in 2014, coming in third.
“It was a wonderful opportunity, as a first-time candidate, to get out, to get to meet people, to get to know your community, build those relationships that are so important when you’re representing others,” Zippel said.
Not all the new rules are in place yet. The city clerk’s office expects the legislation to be in place by April 1.