Candidate shortages are easing across Midwestern Ontario as the municipal election nomination deadline approaches, while several races for mayor are becoming increasingly crowded.
A CKNXNewsToday.ca review of the latest publicly available candidate lists across 35 municipalities in Bruce, Grey, Huron, and Perth counties and northern Wellington found at least 308 people have now filed to run for municipal office.
Nineteen municipalities still have at least one office or ward with too few candidates, down from 26 when the region was reviewed at the beginning of August.
The number of positions without a corresponding candidate has also fallen from 67 to roughly 44.
At the same time, competition for mayor and reeve positions is growing.
Owen Sound currently has the largest mayoral field in the region, with six candidates seeking the city's top job.
Stratford has five candidates for mayor, while South Bruce Peninsula has four.
Three-way races have also developed in The Blue Mountains, Grey Highlands, Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, and South Huron.
Grey Highlands features one of the more notable contests, with incumbent Mayor Paul McQueen facing current Deputy Mayor Dane Nielsen and Mark Brown.
Hanover will also see two members of the current council face one another, with Mayor Sue Paterson being challenged by Deputy Mayor Warren Dickert.
Several municipalities that stood out for candidate shortages earlier in the nomination period have since seen major changes.
Howick had no candidate for reeve when the region was reviewed earlier this month and had previously raised concerns after no members of the current council had initially filed. The township now has candidates for reeve and deputy reeve, along with seven people seeking three councillor positions.
Central Huron has also filled its remaining gap after Alison Lobb entered the West Ward race, bringing that contest to three candidates for three positions.
South Huron now has at least one candidate for every municipal office, while South Bruce has improved from a significant shortage earlier in the nomination period to just one Teeswater-Culross position without a corresponding candidate on its latest posted list.
Minto has also seen a dramatic change. Earlier this month, no one had filed for deputy mayor despite a crowded councillor race. Incumbent Deputy Mayor Jean Anderson and Marté Pronk have since entered the race, creating a contest for the position.
Despite the increase in nominations, several municipalities continue to face significant shortages.
Northern Bruce Peninsula remains one of the most extreme examples. Its latest posted list shows one candidate for mayor but no candidates for deputy mayor or any of the three councillor positions.
Georgian Bluffs has candidates for mayor and deputy mayor, but no one listed for its five councillor seats.
Perth East has developed a two-way mayoral race, but four council wards remain without candidates.
Saugeen Shores has five candidates seeking two Southampton council seats and three running for two Saugeen seats, while only one candidate has filed for two Port Elgin positions.
North Perth has five candidates seeking three Listowel seats, while only one candidate has filed for three positions in Elma Ward.
The latest regional review shows 19 of the 35 municipalities now have contested races for mayor or reeve, and all 35 have at least one candidate for their head-of-council position.
The regional picture can still change before nominations close Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2 p.m.
Because municipalities update their public candidate lists at different times, the regional total reflects the latest lists publicly available as of August 11.
