Markham municipal election race taking shape

But still no declared candidate for mayoral post

Markham Economist & Sun
March 24, 2014
By Amanda Persico

There is at least one candidate running in each of Markham’s eight wards for the 2014 municipal elections, the latest check of registered candidates shows.

There is also a race for the city’s four regional seats, with six names now in the hat. The top four vote-getters become regional councillors. The candidate who gets the most votes becomes deputy mayor.

The office of mayor remains open, with neither the incumbent, Frank Scarpitti, past competitors or any new names stepping up to the plate. There is also no one running for school board trustee for the Catholic, French public and French Catholic school boards in the area.

With the Oct. 27 vote still months away, the city is gearing up for the election by setting up special voting places at long term care facilities as well as setting up early voting days.

Early voting can be done either in-person or online.

This year, residents have 76 hours over an eight day span to vote in-person, which is an increase of 16 hours compared to the 2010 municipal election.

Online voting takes place from 9 a.m. Oct. 16 to Oct. 23 at midnight. Online voting has been extended from 130 hours in 2010 to 183 hours this year.