2 weeks until filing deadline, some municipal races in Waterloo region have few — or no — candidates

There's less than two weeks until the filing deadline for people wanting to run in this October's municipal and school board trustee elections.

With Aug. 19 at 2 p.m. fast approaching, there are some races in Waterloo region and Guelph that have one — or even no — candidates as of Friday at noon.

There's one candidate in four local mayoral races: Waterloo, North Dumfries, Wellesley and Guelph.

In the townships, there are some councillor races where no one has signed up to run yet.

That's "a bit worrisome," says Tim Mau, an associate professor of political science at the University of Guelph.

But, he adds, it may also be strategic.

"Sometimes people do wait till the end. Incumbents often like to hold on and make a final decision late in the game," Mau told CBC News.

"But if there's absolutely no candidates in a particular ward running for the upcoming election, that is definitely concerning."

Less interest in municipal elections

Mau says traditionally, municipal elections don't capture people the way provincial or federal elections might and there's often lower voter turnout. 

For example, voter turnout in this past June's provincial election in Waterloo region's five ridings ranged from 42 per cent to 49 per cent.

In the 2018 municipal election, the highest voter turnout was in Waterloo with 34 per cent, but that was down slightly from 2014 when 36 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot.

Cambridge was the second highest voting turnout in the region in 2018 with 33 per cent, which was up from 30 per cent in 2014.

Guelph's voter participation saw a dip in 2018 when 37 percent of eligible voters went to the polls, down from 45 per cent in 2014. The difference there may be that in 2014, online voting was used but it wasn't in 2018.

"We have this curious situation whereby at the local level, the issues that your local councillor are dealing with have the most direct and immediate impact on your day to day life and the quality of life that you have within your community. And yet so few people bother to turn out and vote after the election," Mau said.

'Really rewarding' work

Local politics matters greatly to Jamie McGarvey, the mayor of Parry Sound and president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. 

McGarvey was a councillor for 29 years before being elected mayor in 2010. He's seeking re-election this fall and as of yet, is running unopposed.

He says local politics is important because you can "do something good" and have an impact on people in their community.

"There's a lot more work to it than people realize, but I find it really rewarding," McGarvey said. "You can see the good that you're able to do in the community and help the people out."

His advice to people who are considering running is to make a decision soon, because candidates need to submit 25 signatures with their paperwork. 

"You better start looking out friends and family and neighbours and that sort of thing so that you can get your paperwork in," he said.

"Be engaged, sign up and give it a shot," he added.

"When I first ran, I gave it a shot. I was lucky enough to get in on a council," he said. "Take a chance … sometimes situations that you have to navigate through, when you come out the other side, you realize how rewarding it really was."

Challenge to get people excited about issues

Mau ran in a Guelph election in 1991 when he was doing his undergraduate degree at the university and says he was "flabbergasted" that many people didn't even realize there was an election.

"People just completely tuned out to what's going on locally in terms of politics, which is really disheartening," he said.

Mau says for some people, municipal elections may be missing the big picture promises that people see federally and provincially.

"I think the challenge is trying to excite people about things like waste removal, waterworks, wastewater treatment, parks and recreation," he said.

"These are some of the bread and butter services that are being provided to municipal residents, but they certainly don't have the same appeal of things like national unity and health care and education."

If people are unhappy with cars speeding down their road or their property taxes or bylaws put into place that they don't agree with, it's the municipal government that will deal with them, Mau noted.

"There is no level of government at which you have a greater opportunity for impacting change," he said.