Maybe not 14 more, but consider running!

Plenty of seats on the train! Democracy has room for everybody. Every community association could field their own prize candidate!

 

100 Days Out — And There's Still Time to Run - jump on board!

Ottawa hit a milestone this week: 100 days until residents choose a new mayor, council, and school board trustees on October 26. 

It's the kind of marker that makes an election feel real — close enough to matter, but, if you've been quietly thinking about running yourself, still far enough away to act on it.

The number that matters more than 100

100 days is the headline. The number that actually decides whether Ward 13 gets a real contest is August 21 at 2:00 p.m. — the deadline to file a nomination. After that, the ballot is locked for four years. Right now, there's still a real window to get in.

What's actually involved

The idea of "running for council" sounds bigger than the process is. To get on the ballot, a candidate needs to:

• Be a Canadian citizen, 18 or older, and a resident (or property owner/tenant, or their spouse) in Ottawa
• Collect 25 endorsement signatures from eligible Ottawa electors
• Pay a $100 filing fee, refundable if financial statements are filed on time
• File in person at the City's Elections Office by appointment before the deadline

No party backing required. No fundraising minimum. No insider approval. The legal bar was built low on purpose, because municipal government is supposed to be reachable by the people it governs.

Why this window matters for Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward

An uncontested seat isn't evidence that residents are satisfied — it's evidence that no one else decided to act before the clock ran out. 

With real open questions on the table in this ward — from transit oversight to infrastructure accountability to how capital decisions get made — a contested race is how those questions actually get put to voters, instead of quietly deferred another four years.

If you've been waiting to see whether "now" is the right time, 100 days out is exactly that moment: close enough that the race is real, far enough out that a serious campaign is still very buildable.

Get on board the peace train!

The takeaway

100 days feels like a countdown. It's also still an invitation. If you've been sitting on the decision, there's time — but not unlimited time. August 21 is the actual deadline that matters.

Come out and enjoy the party! Maybe not 14 more, but at least four more strong candidates please.

Peter Karwacki