Wasaga Beach votes Oct. 26: Who's running, how to vote, and the ward question on your ballot

Wasaga Beach voters will choose a new mayor, deputy mayor and five councillors on Monday, Oct. 26, and will also be asked whether the town should switch to a ward system.

Online voting is already open and runs until 8 p.m. on Election Day. In-person voting takes place on Election Day only, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wasaga Stars Arena, 544 River Road West. The Town's three in-person advance polls have ended.

At a glance

Election Day: Monday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Vote in person: Wasaga Stars Arena, 544 River Road West. Paper ballots are counted by tabulator.
Vote online: Open now until 8 p.m. Oct. 26. You need the PIN from your Voter Information Letter.
On the ballot: Mayor (1), deputy mayor (1), councillors (up to 5), school board trustee (1), and a yes-or-no question on ward voting.
Questions: Town election office, election@wasagabeach.com or 705-429-3844.

Who's running

The Town Clerk certified the following candidates on Aug. 24. They are listed here alphabetically by last name. Candidate contact details and websites are posted on the Town's elections page.

Mayor (vote for one)

Marilyn (Raven) Broughton
Leslie Farkas
Brian Smith
Mark Winegarden

A fifth candidate, Christopher Stasoff, withdrew from the mayoral race, according to the Town.

Deputy mayor (vote for one)

Mike Foley
Tanya Snell

Councillor (vote for up to five)

Thirteen candidates are running for five seats:

Aldona Barysas-Oleinikas
Joe Belanger
Sasha Rose Dileo
Faye Ego
Dan Gale
Kyle Graves
Kendra Marr
Harvey Mihalic
Maurice (Moe) Mowat
Carrie Plater
Dean Robinson
Ellen Timms
Richard White

School board trustee (vote for one)

Which trustee race appears on your ballot depends on the school board you support as a ratepayer.

Simcoe County District School Board (English public): Sarah Azizi, Katherine Baniak, Jay Barron, Adam Harrod, Julie Rose
Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (English Catholic): Shawn Cooper was acclaimed, so there is no vote.
Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (French Catholic): Donald Blais, Innocent Legrand
Conseil scolaire Viamonde (French public): Rachael Golem, Eric Lapointe

The ward question

Voters will also see this question: "Are you in favour of moving to a ward system?" The answer is yes or no.

Wasaga Beach currently elects its council at large. Every voter can vote for every council seat, and each councillor represents the whole town. Under a ward system, the town would be divided into geographic areas, and voters would elect a councillor only for the ward they live in.

Council passed a bylaw on Feb. 12 to put the question on the ballot. The Town has posted a comparison of the two systems at engagewasaga.ca.

Under Ontario's Municipal Elections Act, a ballot question result is binding on council only if at least half of eligible voters cast a ballot on it and more than half of those votes favour one answer.

How to vote

Online. Internet voting opened Oct. 1 and closes at 8 p.m. on Oct. 26. Voters need the unique PIN printed on the Voter Information Letter mailed by the Town. Anyone who did not receive a letter should contact the election office at election@wasagabeach.com. The Town's online voting portal has a step-by-step guide.

In person. On Election Day only, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wasaga Stars Arena, 544 River Road West. Voters must show identification with their name and address, such as an Ontario driver's licence or Ontario Photo Card. Some voters may need two pieces of ID. The full list of accepted documents is on the Town's elections page.

Not sure you're on the list? The Town says you can confirm by emailing the election office with your name, qualifying address and date of birth, or by checking registertovoteon.ca. Changes to the voters' list can be made until voting closes on Oct. 26.

Cottagers can vote, too

Seasonal residents often miss this rule. Under the Municipal Elections Act, anyone who owns or rents property in Wasaga Beach but lives elsewhere is a "non-resident elector." That means they can vote in Wasaga Beach as well as in the municipality where they live. The spouse of a property owner or tenant is also eligible.

The Town says trailer owners in campgrounds may also qualify, because they are considered tenants of the campground.

To be eligible, a voter must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old on Election Day.

What council decides

The seven people elected to council will serve a four-year term. Their decisions include:

the property tax rate and the town budget
development approvals: what gets built, and where
roads, snow clearing, and water and sewer services
beach management and tourism
parks, trails, recreation and the library
fire and emergency services, and the town's policing budget (policing is provided by the OPP)

The mayor and deputy mayor also represent Wasaga Beach on Simcoe County Council.

What happens next

The Town Clerk is scheduled to declare results on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The new council's term begins Nov. 15, and its inaugural meeting is set for Nov. 17 at the Wasaga Stars Arena.

Wasaga Daily is not affiliated with any candidate or campaign. Candidates are listed alphabetically.