There will be at least two new faces at the Brantford city council table following the Oct. 22 municipal election

Two long-serving councillors – Larry Kings in Ward 1 and David Neumann in Ward 5 — are not seeking re-election.

Neumann announced a month ago that he would not seek re-election. Kings, meanwhile, had registered as a candidate but withdrew his name prior to the 2 p.m. Friday deadline for candidate registration.

“I was all set to go and we were working on my campaign but I got to thinking that I’m 73 now and when the next council finishes its mandate I’ll be 77,” Kings said in an interview Friday. “I just think its time for me to step back and spend more time with my family and enjoying my time with them.

“I’ve got five grandchildren and they’re involved in a lot of activities and I want to enjoy that and spend more time with them.”

Kings said he and his wife, Trish, also want to travel.

“When you’re running for council …., you have to be all in,” Kings said. “There are a lot of meetings to attend, you have to respond to concerns from residents and there are issues that require your attention.

“To do that you have to be available.”

Kings said it’s time to pass the torch to someone else.

“I’ve served my time both on council and on the school board and it’s time for me to step back.”

Kings was a member of council in 1980-82 before spending about a dozen years as a trustee on the former Brant County Roman Catholic Separate School Board. He returned to city council from 2000 to 2006. He lost his seat in 2006 but regained it four years later and was re-elected in 2014.

The race for mayor sees five-term incumbent Chris Friel facing six challengers. They are: Kevin Davis, a lawyer and former city councillor; Barbara Berardi, who is on a disability pension; retired business executive Michael Issa; Wayne Maw, a disability pension recipient and volunteer with the St. Vincent de Paul Society; perennial election candidate John Turmel, and Dave Wrobel, a former councillor, past mayoral candidate and professor at Mohawk College.

There are five wards in the city and each ward will elect two councillors.

In Ward 1, there are seven candidates including incumbent Rick Weaver. The other candidates are: Tracey Bucci, Mario Lucente, Michael Sullivan, Ramandeep Khokhar, Amrik Deol and former city councillor and past mayoral candidate Jan Vanderstelt.

The election in Ward 2 has attracted seven candidates including incumbents John Sless and John Utley. They are being challenged by: Erica James, co-owner of Peekaboo-It’s Almost New store; Alex Felsky, a Grand Erie District School Board trustee and two-time NDP provincial candidate; Sandra Anderson, Warren Bechard and Peter Sheere.

In Ward 3, there are five candidates. Incumbent councillors Greg Martin and Dan McCreary are being challenged by Naser Hamed, Linda Hunt and Nicole Durnford.

The race to represent Ward 4 includes incumbents Richard Carpenter and Cheryl Antoski, who are being challenged by Mike Gomon and Rob Ferguson, the interim leader of the Ontario Libertarian Party who was run in previous provincial, federal and municipal elections.

There are 12 candidates running in Ward 5 including incumbent Brian Van Tilborg. The other candidates are: Ian Carson, Jeff Goreski, Kathryn Kissinger, Bobby Panchi, Michael Peterson, Joshua Wall, Dale Beemer, John O’Neill, Dustin Starchuk, David Swanson and former city councillor and past mayoral candidate Mark Littell.

The list of registered candidates will become official by July 30 after information has been verified by the city clerk’s department.

Meanwhile, voters in Brantford should watch for their voter information notices to arrive in late September. The notice will include details about online voting as well as traditional ballot voting information.

Votes should check on www.Voterlookup.ca to confirm they are on the voters list.

Polling information can be found at the city’s election website www.brantford.ca/election.

Voting day location information is being finalized and will be updated shortly.

Advance polls are being held Oct. 9 to 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the civic centre, 69 Market St., and Branlyn Community Centre, 238 Brantwood Park Rd.

Online voting, which was used in Brantford for the first time in the 2014 election, will be available again this year starting Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. until Oct. 22 at 8 p.m.

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