West Carleton-March race ends with Clarke Kelly on top

After flirting with the idea of running for mayor, Eli El-Chantirywalkedaway from city politics after representing the rural ward of West Carleton-March for 19 years.

Clarke Kelly will take that spot.

Seven people ran to replace him:Colin Driscoll;entrepreneur Sasha Duguay;Kelly, most recently a federal publicservant;Ian Madill, a repair and logistics specialist;entrepreneur Stephanie Maghnam;engineer Greg Patacairk; andNagmani Sharma, a software engineer.

Duguaydid not respond to CBC's survey of council candidates, but her website listed priorities including keeping taxes low, improving rural roads, and more affordable recreation activities.

Kelly alsodidn't respond to the survey, but his website listed priorities including safe roads, supporting farms,sustainabledevelopment that isless destructive to natural habitats, andmore recreation facilities.

Maghnam's priorities included better-maintained, safer roads and paths, and better high-speed internet access.

Patacairk'spriorities included improving road maintenance, particularly in winter, protecting green spaces, and promoting local farmers.

Ward at a glance

Projected population 2022:27,419

Projected population 2026:28,341