Elections:

WHEN:

The next Municipal Election will be Monday, October 25, 2010, in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended, of Ontario.

FOR WHAT OFFICES:

In the City of Welland, Municipal Elections are held for the Offices of:

• Mayor and Member of Niagara Regional Council (elected at large)
• Regional Councillor (2 to be elected at large)
• City Councillor
  • Ward One (2 to be elected)
  • Ward Two (2 to be elected)
  • Ward Three (2 to be elected)
  • Ward Four (2 to be elected)
  • Ward Five (2 to be elected)
  • Ward Six (2 to be elected)
• Trustee District School Board of Niagara (1 to be elected as representative of Welland)
• Trustee Niagara Catholic School Board (1 to be elected as representative of Welland)
• Trustee Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest (1 to be elected to represent the electors in the area municipalities of Welland, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Pelham, Port Colborne, Thorold, and Wainfleet)
• Trustee Conseil de district catholique Centre-Sud (1 to be elected to represent the electors in the area municipalities of Welland, Fort Erie, Pelham, Port Colborne, and Wainfleet)

The representation for school board elections are subject to change in the year of the Election based on a formula for each Board which determines representation to an elector population of the Board’s jurisdiction in accordance with the Education Act of Ontario.

ELIGIBILITY:

Generally, in order to run for an office, one must be an eligible elector for the office. Criteria for eligibility is contained in the Municipal Elections Act, Municipal Act, and Education Act (for school board elections). For a full description of qualifications, please refer to the applicable pieces of legislation listed above.
Qualifications for offices include: residency within the municipality; or own or lease land within the municipality (or spouse or same sex partner of such person); and on Voting Day be a Canadian citizen at least 18 years of age, and not be prohibited from voting for any other reason.
The voter qualification period begins on the first Tuesday after Labour Day in an Election year and continues until Voting Day, however, elected candidates must continue to be qualified throughout the term of office.

HOW AND WHEN MAY A CANDIDATE REGISTER FOR OFFICE:

Nomination Day is the Friday 45 days before Voting Day, which in 2010 will be Friday September 10, 2010, from 9:00am until 2:00pm. Candidates may withdraw a nomination any time up until 2pm on September 10th. However, nomination papers may also be filed prior to Nomination Day any time after January 1 in an Election year during the normal office hours of the City Clerk’s Department.
Applications for Nomination may be obtained in the City Clerk’s Department. The Nomination must be on the prescribed form and be accompanied with a $100 filing fee ($200 if seeking the office of Mayor) payable by cash, debit, certified cheque or money order. Candidates may only spend or raise funds for their campaign after they have filed their nomination.
A candidate may only run for one office, but should more than one nomination be filed by a candidate, the last nomination filed will be deemed filed and all previous nominations deemed withdrawn. Filing a second or more nomination also impacts on campaign funds and expenditures. Potential candidates should consult with the Clerk’s Department before considering this.
Nominations are certified or rejected by the Clerk on the Monday following Nomination Day. In 2010, that will be Monday September 13.