Three challengers to Cambridge Mayor Kathryn McGarry's bid for re-election, a last-minute rally to stop an incumbent acclamation, and a husband-and-wife team jumping from provincial politics to the municipal arena should prove to make this fall's municipal election one to remember.
The final slate of candidates submitted their nomination papers Friday, including the husband of former Cambridge MPP Belinda Karahalios and New Blue Party leader Jim Karahalios, who has entered a bid to represent Ward 5.
Belinda filed her nomination for Ward 3 on Wednesday, initiating what could end up being a first for the city; a married couple sitting at the council horseshoe.
The race for the top seat at the horseshoe will be between incumbent Kathryn McGarry, longtime city councillor Jan Liggett, veteran mayoral candidate Randy Carter and a Ward 7 candidate in the 2018 election Cody Bothelo, who filed his nomination Thursday.
Here is a brief rundown of who is running in each ward:
In Ward 1, incumbent Donna Reid will face off against Michelle Goodridge, Paul Brown, Erick Takor and Helen Shwery.
In Ward 2, incumbent Mike Devine will vy to retain his seat on council against Piyush Nanda and Matt Rogers.
The open seat in Ward 3 will see the city's recently ousted Member of Provincial Parliament running against Nate Whalen, Corey Kimpson, Michele Braniff and Tracy Hipel.
In Ward 4, mayoral candidate Jan Liggett's vacant seat is being sought by Ross Earnshaw, Barbara Harrington, Clifford Vanclief and Usman Lalva.
The open seat in Ward 5, is being contested by Sheri Roberts, Mark D. Fisher, Naeem Awan, Amanda Maxwell and Jim Karahalios.
Ward 6 incumbent Shannon Adshade will try to reclaim his seat in a race against Kris Langford, Bill Conway, Adam Cooper and Eian Campbell.
Ward 7 incumbent Scott Hamilton is being challenged by Chris Sim and Manuel da Silva.
Ward 8 incumbent Nicholas Ermeta will be in a four way race to reclaim his seat now that last-minute challengers Jack Perkes, Vandan Patel and David Hood are on the ballot.
Vying to win one of two seats at regional council for Cambridge are former mayor Doug Craig, current Ward 5 councillor Pam Wolf, former federal Conservative candidate in Kitchener South-Hespeler Tyler Calver, a former NDP candidate Bobbi Stewart, former public school board trustee Crystal Whetham, and Cambridge businessman Prakash Venkataraman.
Candidates for Waterloo Region District School Board trustee include incumbents Cindy Watson and Jayne Herring, former Cambridge Green Party candidate Carla Johnson, Luxon Burgess, Bill Cody, Mandi Bond, Linda Brooks and Courtney Waterfall.
Waterloo Catholic District School Board trustee candidates include, Marisa Philips, Jesse Keels, Michael John Rattee, Winston Francis, David Guerin and Robert Sikora.
The city will certify the list of candidates by 4 p.m. Monday.
