Change is in air as candidates vie for position with six months remaining before this fall’s municipal vote

Six months and counting.

With the municipal election pushed back, the electorate will hit the polls on Oct. 25.

To date, nine candidates have registered to run for mayor, with just two of those, Bay Coun. Alex Cullen and former mayor Jim Watson, considered viable contenders.

Watson, who officially launched his campaign Feb. 1, is considered the frontrunner in the race, but with six months to go in the campaign, anything can happen.

There’s still a big “if” this election: Will Mayor Larry O’Brien run again this fall?

If you’re a betting person, put your money on no.

O’Brien has already said he doesn’t want to run and likely won’t want to risk the time, money and his reputation.

Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans has said she’s mulling a run for the mayor’s chair, but, like O’Brien, don’t expect her to take that plunge.

If the comment section attached to City Hall stories posted on the Sun’s website in is any indication, there’s real discontent out there in the community.

Voters are looking for change — and many are suggesting the only way to get that is to wipe the slate clean and get rid of every sitting member of council.

Will that be enough to help newcomers win over an incumbent, something that has proven to be incredibly difficult in the past?

Candidates like Steve Blais, running against incumbent Rob Jellett in Cumberland, is counting on it.

Blais has been concentrating on going door-to-door since early January, and is counting his steps — more than 200,000 to date — which have taken him to about 5,000 doors.

“As a challenger facing an incumbent, voter reception at the door is going a lot better than I envisioned,” Blais said.

“The one thing that is universal in all communities: Change. Voters are rightly upset, disillusioned and angry with this council and fully expect that without change, things will only get worse in the east end and Ottawa.”

Blais knows the odds are against him, but he already has some experience taking on and beating an incumbent, having done just that in his bid to become a school board trustee.

Jellett hasn’t registered, but has confirmed he’ll be in the race.

Cumberland isn’t the only ward shaping up to be an interesting race.

With Bay Coun. Alex Cullen vacating his ward for the mayor’s race, and both Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Gord Hunter and Kanata South Coun. Peggy Feltmate retiring, voters are guaranteed at least three new faces.

In Bay ward, candidates are lining up quickly to fill the spot. A few strong candidates have already registered there, including Ike Awgu, who ran for mayor last time around; Mark Taylor, who used to work for Watson; and Greg Ross.

And in Knoxdale-Merivale, Hunter’s exit has created a flurry of candidates registering. There are six to date, and it’s anyone’s game.

In College ward, where incumbent Rick Chiarelli hasn’t registered but has said he’s running, there are already five challengers — most likely guaranteeing Chiarelli the win.

History suggests that even in wards where the incumbent has run into trouble, if they’re facing several candidates, their chances for coming up the middle are greatly improved.

In Feltmate’s ward, just two candidates have registered to date.

Save for Capital Coun. Clive Doucet, all the other incumbents have said they’ll be running again. Doucet says he’s concentrating on fighting the proposed Lansdowne Park redevelopment and won’t make any future plans until the summer.

In his ward, three candidates have already registered, including Isabel Metcalfe, a long-time Liberal volunteer.

With six months to go, all but Kanata North Coun. Marianne Wilkinson and Innes Coun. Rainer Bloess have someone running against them.

“I’ve been hitting some doors over the past weekends. Overall, the reception has been cordial,” said Bloess.

“There are concerns about taxes and fees and the impression that council does not stick by its decisions,” he added.