Hamilton election cheat sheet: A last-minute voters’ guide

Election day in Hamilton is here.

Voters are heading to the polls to decide who they want to represent them on Hamilton’s city council and local school boards for the next four years.

But if you haven’t been tuning in to the municipal election so far, you’re in luck. Here’s a quick look at what you need to know.

Who’s running?

Fred Eisenberger is seeking another term as Hamilton’s mayor and faces more than a dozen challengers, including chartered accountant and political organizer Vito Sgro. A recent poll suggested the pair are in a virtual tie for support.

Other candidates for mayor are Edward HC Graydon, Phil Ryerson, Nathalie Xian Yi Yan, Todd May, Carlos Gomes, Ricky Tavares, Ute Schmid-Jones, Paul Fromm, Jim Davis, Henry Geissler, Michael Pattison, George Rusich and Mark Wozny.

This election will result in at least four new faces on Hamilton’s 16-member city council. Councillors Aidan Johnson, Matthew Green and Robert Pasuta are not seeking re-election, while Donna Skelly‘s move to the Ontario legislature leaves Ward 7 open.

READ MORE: Hamilton election 2018: Where, when and how to vote — and who’s running

Terry Whitehead is running in a new ward, and former MP Eve Adams is running in Ward 8, where Whitehead was previously elected.

For a full list of candidates for council and school boards, click here.

What are the issues?

This election has been largely defined by the city’s upcoming light rail transit project.

According to a recent Forum research poll, one-third of respondents said the LRT is the most important issue influencing this election.

Eisenberger is in favour of continuing with plans to build the LRT, a 14-kilometre, 17-stop transit line between McMaster University and Eastgate Square that is expected to be open by 2024.

Sgro is against it and believes provincial money earmarked for Hamilton could be better spent elsewhere on transit and other priorities.

Other election issues identified in the poll were property taxes, which 17 per cent of respondents said was the most important issue. Roads and infrastructure (15 per cent), public safety and crime (9 per cent) and the cost of housing (7 per cent) were also concerns.

Where do I vote?

There are 207 voting locations throughout the city. Look up yours by typing in your address here. Polling stations are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 22.

What ID do I need to vote?

If you’re on the voters’ list, you will need a piece of identification that confirms your name and address in order to cast a ballot.

An Ontario driver’s licence, photo or health card are accepted, but it doesn’t have to be photo ID. Paycheque stubs and void personal cheques will work, along with bills or statements from utilities, banks, government agencies and more. For additional information, check out the full of list of accepted documents.

If you aren’t on the list, you can still vote. Joining the voters’ list will require a combination of ID that shows your name, address and signature.

If you are on the voters’ list but don’t have identification, you can sign a declaration saying you are the person on the list.

Where is my ward?

The boundaries have been redrawn for the 2018 election so your address may be part of a different ward than in 2014. To look up your ward, use this tool.

The new boundaries are shown in this interactive map:

Where can I see the results

Real-time results will be posted on the city’s website as well as on 900chml.com. The city says results are expected to start coming in shortly after the polls close at 8 p.m.

Global News Radio 900 CHML will be broadcasting live from Hamilton City Hall with host Bill Kelly from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on election night.

List of Hamilton city council and school trustee candidates

Mayor

Edward HC Graydon

Fred Eisenberger (incumbent)

Phil Ryerson

Nathalie Xian Yi Yan

Todd May

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Carlos Gomes

Ricky Tavares

Vito Sgro

Ute Schmid-Jones

Paul Fromm

Jim Davis

Henry Geissler

Michael Pattison

George Rusich

Mark Wozny

Ward 1

Sophie Geffros

Linda Narducci

Syed Bakht

Ela Eroglu

Richard Massie

Jason Allen

Sharon Cole

Maureen Wilson

Harrison White

Lyla Miklos

Sharon Anderson

Jordan Geertsma

Carol E. Lazich

Ward 2

Nicole Smith

Cameron Kroetsch

Suresh Venodh Daljeet

Mark Tennant

Jason Farr (incumbent)

James Unsworth

John Vail

Diane Chiarelli

Ward 3

Kristeen Sprague

Keith Beck

Tony Lemma

Laura Farr

Milena Balta

Dan Smith

Nrinder Nann

Alain Bureau

Brendan Kavanaugh

Amanda Salonen

Steven Paul Denault

Stephen Rowe

Ned Kuruc

Ward 4

Sam Merulla (incumbent)

Rod Douglas

Ward 5

Stewart Klazinga

Juanita Maldonado

Chad Collins (incumbent)

Ward 6

Brad Young

Tom Jackson (incumbent)

Timothy Taylor

Ward 7

Dan MacIntyre

Jim McColl

Joseph Kazubek

Karen Grice-Uggenti

Adam Dirani

Steve Clarke

Kristopher Clowater

Geraldine McMullen

Esther Pauls

Steve Benson

Roland Schneider

Ward 8

Christopher Climie

John-Paul Danko

Anthony Simpson

Colleen Wicken

Steve Ruddick

Eve Adams

Ward 9

Doug Conley (incumbent)

Peter Lanza

David Ford

Brad Clark

Lakhwinder Singh Multani

Ward 10

Jeff Beattie

Ian Thompson

Maria Pearson (incumbent)

Louie Milojevic

Ward 11

Brenda Johnson (incumbent)

Waleed Shewayhat

Ward 12

John Scime

Miranda Reis

Mike Bell

Lloyd Ferguson (incumbent)

Kevin Marley

Ward 13

Kevin Gray

John Mykytyshyn

Rich Gelder

Arlene Vanderbeek (incumbent)

Pamela Mitchell

Gaspare Bonomo

John Roberts

Ward 14

Vincent Samuel

Robert Iszkula

Bryan Wilson

Terry Whitehead

Roslyn French-Sanges

Ward 15

Susan McKechnie

Judi Partridge (incumbent)

School board trustee elections

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (ward 1 and 2)

Christine Ann Bingham

Rahimuddin Chowdhury

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board ward 3

Chris Parkinson

Jocelynn Vieira

Livia Jones

Gail Tessier

Marlene A.S. Thomas

Maria Felix Miller

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board ward 4

Ray Mulholland

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board ward 5

Jason McLaughlin

Todd White

Carole Paikin Miller

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board ward 6

Jay Edington

Kathy Archer

Eamon O’Donnell

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board ward 7

Dawn Danko

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board ward 8 and 14

Damin Starr

Rochelle Butler

Erica Villabroza

Becky Buck

Yousaf Malik

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board ward 9 and 10

Wayne Marston

Cam Galindo

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board ward 11 and 12

Blake Hambly

Alex Johnstone

Bruce Carnegie

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board ward 13

Noor Nizam

Sukhi Dhillon

Chris Parr

Paul Tut

Steven James Laur

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board ward 15

Penny Deathe

Janet Creet

Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board ward 1, 2 and 15

Mark Valvasori

Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board ward 3 and 4

Anthony Perri

Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board ward 5

Aldo D’Intino

Ralph Agostino

Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board ward 6

Joseph Baiardo

Ellen Agostino

Elenita (Elen) Ranas

Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board ward 7

Patrick J. Daly

Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board ward 8 and 14

John Valvasori

George Kalacherry

Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board ward 9 and 11

Antonio (Tony) Di Mambro

Karmen Crea

Louis Agro

Tyler Iorio

Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board ward 10

Mary Nardini

Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board ward 12 and 13

Phil Homerski

Neil Chopp

Olya Lydia Chan

Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir – French Catholic

Marcel Levesque

Conseil Scolaire Viamonde – French Public

Pierre Girouard

Denis S. Frawley