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Currently, there are now three candidates registered for Chiarelli’s College Ward, which probably means it’s safe for him to come out of the weeds and put his campaign suit on.

I have a couple of other questions that arise after surveying the list of registered candidates just days before nominations close:

Why so few female candidates? If gender representation at city council matters, then it is going to fall to women to change the status quo by stepping up to run. So, why aren’t more of them registering?

Of the 90 candidates who have filed papers so far, only 19 are women. This at a time when only four women occupy chairs around the 24 member council and with one of them (Kanata Coun. Marianne Wilkinson) set to retire, the number could go even lower.

Women are running in only nine of the 24 races, meaning the next council is guaranteed to skew heavily male — again.

Another question: Why is there exactly zero competition for the councillor jobs in Gloucester-South Nepean and Beacon Hill-Cyrville?

Are Qaqish and Tierney so invincible? Both are competent, but it’s not like they have been leading lights on Council this term. One spends an awful lot of time playing radio disc jockey.

Right now, their paths back to city hall are only slightly easier than Jim Watson’s, who faces absolutely zero risk of losing election despite six minor-league competitors joining the campaign for the mayor’s chair.

Here’s a suggestion: Get to know the minor players here. As I’ve warned before: After the close of nominations Friday and with no other serious candidate registered to run, one of these also-rans could just become mayor in the unlikely event Watson were forced to retire from the race before election day. This is just one more reason that our system is better served when there is good competition for these jobs.