It's been nearly a month since nominations opened for the October municipal elections, and the number of candidates who have submitted their paperwork has grown in Essex County.
Here is an update of county candidates as of Monday evening.
In Amherstburg, incumbent Michael Prue has filed for re-election, along with three challengers, Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb, former councillor Frank DiPasquale, and Frank Cerasa, who ran for mayor in 2022 but lost to Prue.
With the deputy mayor's chair open, Councillor Linden Crain has submitted to run, along with Bill Petruniak, a longtime resident and frequent visitor to council chambers.
For Town Council, no incumbents have stated their intentions yet. There are three candidates for the at-large council so far, T.J. Botsford, Lana Lazanja, and Tony Pietrangelo. Voters will be asked to select five candidates.
First-term mayoral incumbent Sherry Bondy has asked voters for another four years and is so far running unopposed.
Incumbent Rob Shepley currently stands alone for the deputy mayor position.
For Town Council, incumbent Katie McGuire-Blais is re-standing for one of the two Ward 1 seats. Another incumbent, Kim Verbeek wants a second term in Ward 2. Bill Baker has entered the race for Ward 3, and Rachael Mills is up in Ward 4.
Roshan Nallaratnam has announced a candidacy for mayor, and at-large Councillor Thomas Neufeld is also taking a shot at the office. Dennis Rogers is the first-term incumbent and has yet to announce his intentions.
Kimberly DeYong is seeking another term as deputy mayor.
At-large council incumbents Sheri Lowrie and Debby Jarvis-Chausse have filed their nomination papers. Adam Edwards is challenging for one of the five at-large seats.
First-term Mayor Tracey Bailey wants a second term. She is being challenged by businessman and philanthropist Sam Sinjari, and community activist Argo Pace.
Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt is looking for another term.
For the Ward 1 seat on Lakeshore Council, Ryan Lahoud is running. In Ward 5, the sole candidate is challenger Tim McDermott. Ward 6 incumbent Larissa Vogler is also asking for another four years.
Mayoral incumbent Crystal Meloche is running for reelection, and is the only candidate thus far.
Deputy Mayor Michael Akpata has also asked LaSalle voters to retain him.
Councillor Mike Seguin, who won the by-election held after the death last year of Sue Desjarlais, wants a term in his own right. LaSalle has five at-large seats up for grabs.
Incumbent Mayor Hilda MacDonald would like another four-year term.
Councillor Paul Tiessen is looking for a promotion and has filed to run for deputy mayor. Larry Verbeke is the incumbent, who has not yet announced his intentions.
For the five-seat, at-large Municipal Council, incumbent Bill Dunn is running again. There are two challengers so far, John Biekx and Rielly O'Shaughnessy.
Pelee Island has not formally announced any candidates at this time.
Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti has filed to run for the mayor's post currently held by incumbent Gary McNamara, who is looking to keep the job he has held since 2003.
Ward 5 Councillor Tania Jobin has filed to run for the soon-to-be-vacant deputy mayor's seat.
In Ward 1, Alicia Higgison is the incumbent, and she has not announced a run for a second term. Darrin Drouillard has filed to challenge her.
Two candidates are in the race for Ward 2 Councillor, incumbent James Dorner and challenger Suanne Hawkins.
In Ward 3, Leo DeMarce is running for the seat currently occupied by Rick Tonial.
Incumbent Brian Houston is the sole candidate in Ward 4, and Marisa Nabbout has filed to succeed Jobin in Ward 5.
School Board Trustees
University of Windsor political science professor Emmanuelle Richez, the Windsor-Essex trustee on the board of Viamonde, the French-language public school board, is running for re-election.
Paul Lachance is running for reelection for trustee at Conseil scolaire catholique Providence, the French-language Catholic board. He has filed to represent Lakeshore Wards 3, 4, and 5. Also, Doris Sauve is running for reelection in Lakeshore Ward 6, Leamington, and Pelee Island.
For the Greater Essex County District School Board, the English public board, David Keller is running as the trustee for Essex and Kingsville. Julia Burgess is the incumbent. She has not yet announced her intentions.
At the English-language Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, incumbent Mary DiMenna is running for reelection as the trustee for Essex, Kingsville, and Leamington.
Candidates have until August 21 to file their intentions with their respective municipalities.
The election is on Monday, October 26.
