Russell Township to hold by-election in December after mayor dies
Russell Township in eastern Ontario will have a by-election in December for the office of mayor after the incumbent died suddenly on Saturday.
Jean Paul St. Pierre, 65, was pronounced dead just after 9:20 a.m. Saturday after paramedics responded to his home in Russell, Ont., south of Ottawa.
His death comes a mere nine days before municipal elections take place across Ontario. St. Pierre was running for mayor against his cousin Donald St-Pierre.
Municipal election laws in Ontario state that when the death of a candidate in a two-person race would result in the one remaining candidate being acclaimed, a by-election is instead triggered.
At a township council meeting on Monday, the by-election voting dates were set for Dec. 12-15.
The deadline for nominations in the by-election is Oct. 31.
Elections for council and school trustees in Russell Township will take place on Oct. 27, the day all other municipalities in the province also vote.
