4 Barrie council seats, mayor currently uncontested as municipal election nomination deadline approaches

With only nine days left for candidates to throw their hat in the ring for the 2018 municipal elections, several council seats in Barrie remain uncontested.

After an initial influx of eager candidates who filed papers shortly after the nomination period opened, it appears as though interest has waned.

Currently in Barrie, four council seats and the mayor are uncontested.

According to the City of Barrie elections website, which was last updated on July 16, incumbent Doug Shipley is the only candidate to have filed papers for Ward 3, Gary Harvey is the only individual to have thrown his hat in the race for Ward 7, incumbent Sergio Morales is the lone candidate for Ward 9, and incumbent Mike McCann is the only candidate to have filed papers for Ward 10.

Additionally, Barrie’s current Mayor Jeff Lehman is the only candidate to have filed papers for the position of mayor.

This is in stark contrast to the last municipal election, which took place in 2014. According to the official election results, only one councillor — Michael Prowse — was elected by acclamation in 2014.

Candidates who wish to enter the race must be eligible to vote in the municipality they are filing in. They must also be at least 18 years old on the day they file to run and must be a Canadian citizen.

Those looking to run for a council seat have until July 27 at 2 p.m. to file papers.

More information regarding qualification details, applicable forms, and a full candidate list can be found on the City of Barrie website.

Voters will head to the polls for the 2018 municipal elections on Oct. 22.