There isn’t much action in Antigonish Co. for the upcoming municipal election.
Only three of the municipality’s 10 districts will be contested Oct. 17; the other seven seats were acclaimed when only one candidate came forward before Tuesday’s deadline to file nomination papers.
After September’s regular municipal council meeting Tuesday night, Owen McCarron, the warden of Antigonish Co., said you always want people engaged in the democratic process.
“You hope there’s more folks (that) decide to get involved,” he said. “But also, it’s a sign that people seem to be fairly satisfied with the direction that the county is going.”
McCarron said COVID-19 may have played a role in the lack of new candidates.
He said they tried to get more women involved.
“We actually made a (financial) contribution so that female folks could go to a candidates’ school,” he said. “(We’re) trying to open up the opportunities for people so that they have a better understanding of what’s involved in municipal government.”
Mary MacLellan, the only woman currently on council, has already been acclaimed in District 1.
Two women are new candidates- Kristel Fleuren-Hunter challenges Donnie MacDonald, the current councillor, in District 2, while Carol MacEachern is up against incumbent Neil Corbett and Harris McNamara in District 9.
The other race features Vaughan Chisholm, the current District 4 councillor, against Shawn Brophy.
