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On May 18, former mayor Henry Dayday called a news conference where many expected him to announce he was running for mayor.

Instead, he went on a rant about city council’s communications allowance and how such an unfair advantage for incumbents might convince him to pass on a mayoral campaign. Dayday eventually decided to run, but it’s interesting that with less than a month before nominations close, five incumbent councillors remain unopposed.

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Are these five so stunningly effective and popular that no one has the audacity to challenge them, or do potential challengers simply feel they cannot compete with them for name recognition? Three of the unchallenged incumbents have used their communications allowances — public money — to plaster their names and faces on display ads on billboards and bus stops.

Nobody has jumped into the fray to face Darren Hill in Ward 1, Troy Davies in Ward 4, Randy Donauer in Ward 5, Mairin Loewen in Ward 7 or Zach Jeffries in Ward 10. Except for Ward 10, the rumour mill is silent about anyone considering a campaign in these wards.