If you've ever thought about running for municipal office, now's your chance.
The nomination period for mayoral, council and school trustee candidates for this fall's Ontario municipal elections opened Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Candidates have until Aug. 21 to file nomination papers with their municipal clerk, which, in Barrie, will be accepted Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m to August 20 and between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on August 21.
To run for a position, candidates must fill out a form, pay a $100 nomination fee and provide a list of at least 25 endorsement signatures, with some exceptions.
That includes a Declaration of Qualification, and a FOI release form authorizing the posting of candidate contact information.
The City of Barrie says nomination papers and endorsement signatures may be inspected by any person at the clerk’s office during regular office hours.
Individuals, corporations and trade unions can also register to be third-party advertisers starting today, with a deadline of Oct. 23.
Eligible Ontarians can vote in a municipality if they live there, own or rent property there or if they are the spouse of someone who owns or rents property in the municipality other than the one where they live.
Municipal candidates don't necessarily need to live in the ward they aim to represent either. The boundaries for the City's wards were updated in June ahead of the election, and will be used for the fall election to ensure equitable representation.
Aside from the position of mayor and city councillor, residents can also run for school board trustee positions with the Simcoe County District School Board, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.
Barrie is holding two information sessions for those who may be interested in running, or those considering registering as a third-party advertiser on May 11 (hosted by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing) and May 28 (hosted by the City of Barrie's election team) at City Hall.
The City says each session will cover different aspects of running for and filling roles in municipal office and help determine if its the right fit for potential candidates.
Similar information sessions are also being held in townships across Simcoe County and in Orillia.
Mayor-elects in any of Simcoe County's member townships will also serve on Simcoe County council.
Residents will head to the polls on Oct. 26.
The current term of council in Barrie ends on Nov. 14, and the next term with elected officials on Nov. 15. However, those dates vary in other municipalities.
—with files from the Canadian Press
