James Brose has been keeping an eye on the webpage for the upcoming fall election in his small eastern Ontario township, and he is feeling concerned. Brose has served as the mayor of North Algona Wilberforce, a group of cottage-country communities located approximately 130 kilometers west of Ottawa, for the past eight years. Prior to his mayoral term, he was a councillor for four years in the township, which is home to around 3,000 residents.
The 69-year-old retired farmer has decided to step down as mayor at the end of this term, partly due to a health scare he experienced last year. Despite the fact that candidates in North Algona Wilberforce and more than 400 other Ontario municipalities have until 2 p.m. on Aug. 21 to submit their nomination papers for local council seats, only seven individuals have filed for the four regular council seats in North Algona Wilberforce. As of Friday, no one in the township has come forward to succeed Brose as mayor.
Expressing his concerns, Brose mentioned to CBC that becoming a mayor is not a role that many people are eager to take on. He highlighted the demanding workload that comes with the position and the challenges of managing social media interactions. Personally, Brose pointed out that being a mayor restricts his ability to take extended vacations, especially with a son residing in British Columbia. Following a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery last year, Brose made the decision to step back from the role.
The situation in North Algona Wilberforce mirrors similar challenges faced by candidates in eastern Ontario during the current municipal election season. Several municipalities, including Carleton Place, Petawawa, and the Township of Beckwith, have seen only one incumbent mayoral or reeve candidate file their nomination papers by Friday afternoon. This trend raises the possibility of a recurrence of acclaimed positions, as seen in past Ontario elections.
In Ottawa, five incumbent councillors faced no opponents as of Friday morning, while in the Town of Arnprior, only five individuals had filed their nomination papers by early Friday afternoon. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) reported that 32 municipal councils in Ontario were fully acclaimed in 2022, an increase from 26 in 2018, emphasizing the importance of competitive elections for a healthy democracy.
Although the number of candidates remains low in some communities, incumbent Coun. Dan Lynch in Arnprior expressed confidence that more candidates would file their papers before the deadline, based on past experiences. Lynch acknowledged that Arnprior tends to have a slower pace in such matters.
Brose and Lynch both acknowledged the challenges of municipal politics, noting that the modest compensation relative to the job’s demands could deter younger, working-age individuals from participating. Brose emphasized that the remuneration may not be sufficient for full-time engagement, impacting individuals balancing work and civic duties. Lynch bluntly highlighted the financial aspect, stating that the annual remuneration for councillors is $21,000 without a pension, making it essential to have a genuine passion for the community and the work involved to sustain such a role.