Wilkinson, Muirhead both ready and willing to step into Kanata North city council vacancy

By Alex Black

Now that Jenna Sudds has made the move from municipal to federal politics, Ottawa City Council has to decide what to do with its vacant Kanata North seat.

Council could decide to hold a byelection, at a cost of over $350,000, or select a temporary representative for the next 14 months, for which there are a couple of contenders.

Former Kanata North councillor Marianne Wilkinson says she would be willing to take on the role.

“I have been approached by community members about that — a lot of them,” she tells CityNews Ottawa. “I've told them, that if they want me to be there and the city agrees, then I'd be willing to do it.”

Matt Muirhead was Kanata North's runner-up in the last municipal election in 2018, and he says he would happily step in as a replacement for Sudds.

“I think there is some legitimacy to calling that democratic, that there are, you know, thousand of people who voted for me and therefore, perhaps, that is the way to go,” he says.

Both agree though, that it must be a decision made by city council, and they will not advocate for one way or the other.

“A year is an awfully long time and there is a lot going on in Kanata North that really needs a councillor's attention, so I think the sooner you can get representation in there, the better — whoever that is,” Muirhead says.

“It's very dear to me,” adds Wilkinson, “I don't want things going wrong in the community, so if I can help I will, but I'm not going to be falling over to make it happen.”

Liberal Jenna Sudds was elected in the riding of Kanata-Carleton on Monday, September 20, and put forth her official resignation on Thursday.

The next municipal election is set for October 24, 2022.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today