All But One: Municipalities Head To The Polls October 19th

Top Row L-R: Yvon LeBlanc, Warden of the Municipality of Clare; Cathy Hinton, Deputy Mayor Town of Truro, Suzanne Lohnes-Croft, Councillor for Mahone Bay;

Geoff Stewart, Deputy Mayor of Colchester County; and Jim Ryan, Town of Pictou.

Bottom Row L-R: David Mitchell, Mayor Town of Bridgewater; Brenda Chisholm Beaton, Mayor of Port Hawkesbury; Bonny MacIsaac, Warden of the County of Inverness; Donald Hussher, Mayor of Trenton; and Ron Chisholm, Mayor of the Town of Mulgrave

On October 19th, residents across the province of Nova Scotia will head to the polls to elect their local municipal leaders for the upcoming 2024-2028 council term.

Out of Nova Scotia’s 49 municipalities, all but one will see contested elections. The lone exception is the Town of Mulgrave, where Mayor Ron Chisholm and his four council colleagues will return to their posts without facing opposition. This small community stands as a unique example in a year marked by significant political transitions across the province.

While many candidates will face off in contested races, five municipalities will see their new mayors acclaimed without challenge. These communities are preparing for a smooth transition of power, as several long-serving mayors step down, making way for fresh leadership.

In the Town of Berwick, outgoing Mayor Don Clark is set to be succeeded by Mike Trinacty. Similarly, in the Town of Digby, Mayor Ben Cleveland will pass the reins to Mike Bartlett.

Middleton will see Deputy Mayor Gail Smith rise to the top job, replacing Mayor Sylvester Atkinson. Meanwhile, in the town of Stewiacke, Doug Glasser will take over from George Lloy. The Town of Truro will experience a particularly notable transition, as longtime councillor and mayor Bill Mills, who has served on council since 1987, steps down. Cathy Hinton, the current Deputy Mayor, will assume the position unchallenged, closing a historic chapter for Truro's municipal leadership.

While new leadership is emerging in several communities, nine incumbent mayors have been re-elected without opposition, signalling a continuation of leadership for the next term. Among these leaders is Mayor David Mitchell of Bridgewater, who will return to steer his town’s development and growth. In the Town of Pictou, Jim Ryan remains unopposed, continuing his leadership of the picturesque coastal community. Trenton will also see the return of Mayor Donald Hussher for a second term, following his transition from long-time councillor to mayor in the previous election. In Mulgrave, Ron Chisholm, along with his entire council team, will continue guiding the town's governance.

In five rural municipalities, current wardens will remain on the council. Yvon LeBlanc, Warden of the Municipality of Clare, will return as the District 8 Councillor. Similarly, in the County of Inverness, Warden Bonny MacIsaac will not face a challenge in District 3 and will also remain on the council.

Robert Parker, Warden of Pictou County, will be back as District 6 Councillor, while Penny Smith of Shelburne County continues her service as District 2 Councillor. In Yarmouth County, John Cunningham will be back in District 1.

These councillors will face an internal vote after the October 19th election to determine whether they will continue in their roles as wardens.

In several municipalities, incumbent mayors are facing direct challenges from sitting councillors and deputy mayors, reflecting a drive for change or fresh perspectives in local governance.

One of the most anticipated races is in Colchester County, where Deputy Mayor Geoff Stewart, who also serves as the President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, is challenging incumbent Mayor Christine Blair.

And in the Town of Oxford, Deputy Mayor Arnold MacDonald is seeking to unseat incumbent Mayor Greg Hanley.

In addition to mayoral contests, several municipalities are witnessing internal battles between sitting councillors as they vie for the top leadership positions.

In Kentville, two councillors, Paula Huntley and Andrew Zebian, are competing, along with one other candidate, to replace outgoing Mayor Sandra Snow. Similarly, in Trenton, Councillor Bryan Knight (Ward 1) and Deputy Mayor Simon Lawand (Ward 1) are two of the three candidates vying for the position of mayor, following one-term Mayor Donald Hussher’s decision not to seek re-election.

In some municipalities, current leaders are seeking to change their positions within local government, stepping down from the mayoral or warden roles but staying active in the council.

One such case is in Queens Municipality, where the current Mayor Darlene Norman is stepping down from her position as mayor to run for councillor in District 4. She faces incumbent District 4 Councillor Vicki Amirault and another candidate in what promises to be a closely watched race.

Similarly, in Kings County, District 4 Councillor Martha Armstrong is running for mayor, aiming to succeed outgoing Mayor Peter Muttart. Meanwhile, in Mahone Bay, Councillor - and Former Nova Scotia MLA Suzanne Lohnes-Croft is seeking to replace outgoing Mayor David Devenne, bringing a new approach to leadership in the town.

While new faces prepare to take on leadership roles, several high-profile leaders have decided to step down, marking the end of long and notable careers in municipal politics.

In the Municipality of Annapolis, Warden Alex Morrison has chosen to retire, leaving the race wide open for new leadership. Antigonish County will see the departure of Warden Owen McCarron, while in the Town of Antigonish, Mayor Laurie Boucher will also step down, passing the reins to the next generation of leadership.

Perhaps one of the most significant departures is in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, where Mayor Amanda McDougall, considered a rising star in municipal politics, has decided to call it quits. Her decision not to seek re-election has created a major opening in one of Nova Scotia’s most politically active regions.

Other notable departures include Murray Scott, Mayor of Cumberland, and three-term Halifax Mayor Mike Savage, who has been a central figure in Halifax’s development over the years. The Town of Shelburne will also see Mayor Harold Locke step down, while District 3 Councillor and Warden of Victoria, Bruce Morrison, is retiring after 14 years of service.

These retirements pave the way for new leadership.

While several communities will see their leadership acclaimed, many others are gearing up for highly contested races. From Halifax to the smallest rural municipalities, voters will have the chance to choose between experienced incumbents, energetic newcomers, and councillors seeking to move into leadership roles.