Rules for running
Posted Jan 29, 2014 05:18:19 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
So you want to run for mayor or ward councillor? We have some rules and guidelines to help you with that.
First, are you 18? If so then that’s a good start. According to the City of Kitchener’s Candidate Reference Guide, you should also be living in the area to which you are seeking candidacy. You also cannot work for a municipality and be on council at the same time–meaning you would have to take a leave of absence.
To make things simple, here’s who’s NOT eligible to be on council:
-Any person who is not eligible to vote in the municipality.
-An employee of a municipality who has not taken an unpaid leave of absence and resigned.
-A judge of any court.
-An MP, an MPP or a Senator.
-An inmate serving a sentence in a penal or correctional institution.
If none of these apply to you, then you can start filling out your nomination form. Nominations are open now and you have until September 12, 2014 to submit. The form must have original signatures and be delivered in person–or by your agent. You can find the link for the Nomination Form here.
Also found in the Reference Guide, there are a few ways you can fill this out depending on how you like yourself to be addressed:
-Say your name is John Clay Smith. If you normally go by John Smith, print Smith, John on the nomination form.
-If you normally go by Clay Smith, and the clerk agrees, print Smith, Clayon the nomination form.
-If you normally go by John Clay, and the clerk agrees, print Smith, John Clay on the form.
How much?
The fee to file a nomination is $200 to run for head of council, and $100 for all other positions. This fee must be paid to the clerk at the time you hand in your nomination form. The clerk has until 4 p.m. on Monday, September 15, 2014 to certify or reject your nomination. If you withdraw your nomination your form fee is refunded, however if your nomination is rejected your deposit is not reimbursed. And, if there are no other certified candidates by that day, then you could be declared elected by acclamation.
Next step: Campaigning.
You can find all the nitty gritty rules in the 1996 Municipal Elections Act. For your campaign signs, the Act doesn’t regulate them, however your municipality might in regards to where and how the signs can be displayed on certain properties, which must be removed after voting day.
Debates aren’t a requirement, but you can organize debates or discussions through community groups, media outlets, candidates or any other interested person. Finally, like-minded candidates can run on the same platform, however they must keep their finances separate.
Not sure how to take the first step in campaigning? The Association of Municipalities of Ontario hosts a Municipal Education Program that will expand on the 101s of elections and campaigning. It’s an online course that can be taken any time for $24.
You can still campaign on voting day, however there can’t be any of the campaign materials in a voting location. You can remain in the voting location, but are not to interfere with the voting process. What you can do, is appoint a scrutineer at each of the ballot boxes.
Once all the ballots are submitted the winning candidate will start the new term in office December 1, 2014.
These are some of the duties of a candidate during their campaign, according to the Municipal Elections Act:
-One or more campaign accounts are opened at a financial institution, exclusively for the purposes of the election campaign and in the name of the candidate’s election campaign.
-All contributions of money are deposited into the campaign accounts.
-All payments for expenses, except for a nomination filing fee, are made from the campaign accounts.
-Contributions of goods or services are valued.
-Receipts are issued for every contribution and obtained for every expense.
-Records are kept of: the receipts issued for every contribution, the value of every contribution, whether a contribution is in the form of money, goods or services, and the contributor’s name and address.
-Records are kept of every expense including the receipts obtained for each expense.
-Records are kept of any claim for payment of an expense that the candidate disputes or refuses to pay.
-Records are kept of the gross income from a fund-raising function and the gross amount of money received at a fund-raising function by donations of $10 or less.
-Records are kept of any loan and its terms under section 75.
Key dates posted on the City of Kitchener’s webpage:
Municipal Elections – Monday, October 27, 2014
January 2 – September 11
Period preceding Nomination Day when nominations for:
Mayor
Ward Councillor
May be filed in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; except on Nomination Day, filing is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
September 2 – October 27
Voters’ List Revision Period
The Voters’ List will be available at City Hall, branches of the Kitchener Public Library and at various Community Resource Centres.
September 12
Nomination Day
Nominations accepted in the Office of the City Clerk from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Withdrawal of nominations must be submitted in writing by 2 p.m.
September 15
Any acclamations will be declared by the City Clerk at 5 p.m.
September 15 – October 25
A person appointed as proxy must apply for their proxy vote certificate in the Office of the City Clerk during regular business hours or between 12 noon and 5 p.m. on a Saturday that an Advance Vote is being held.
October 15, 16, 17, & 18
Tentative Advance Voting Days – Final dates and locations will be released in April, 2014.
October 27
Voting Day – Voting Places open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
December 31
Campaign period ends.
Advance Voting
All eligible electors may vote at an Advance Vote at any one of the following Community Centres, on the dates and at the times specified below:
Tentative Dates and Times:
Wednesday, October 15 – 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday, October 16 – 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, October 17 – 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 18 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Final dates and times for advance voting will be posted in the spring of 2014.
Community Centre Locations:
City Hall – 200 King Street West
Country Hills – 100 Rittenhouse Road
Doon Pioneer Park – 150 Pioneer Drive
Forest Heights – 1700 Queen’s Boulevard
Sportsworld Arena – 35 Sportsworld Crossing Road
Stanley Park – 505 Franklin Street North
Accessible vote tabulators will be available at all six locations during the Advance Vote.
