Elizabeth Clarke may choose not to run if there's a byelection

Elizabeth Clarke says she may choose not to run if regional council decides to hold a byelection for Wayne Wettlaufer's vacant seat, instead of appointing her to the job.  

Clarke ran for regional council in Kitchener last fall and with just over 13 per cent of the vote, placed less than one point behind Geoff Lorentz, who now sits on council. 

The vacant seat was created when Counc. Wayne Wettlaufer died suddenly in June, leaving regional council with two choices: either hold a byelection or appoint someone to the seat. 

It's a lot of commitment for a candidate ... and I won't want to make that commitment until I have a better sense of how realistic my chances are.- Elizabeth Clarke

Regional Chair Ken Seiling wrote a report to council, recommending that Clarke be appointed based on the support she received during the last election and the prohibitive cost of another election. 

"I find it hard to support an option that would require a city-wide election...that would cost approximately $150,000.00 - $275,000.00," Seiling wrote in his report.

Clarke said she's eager to take on the councilor role, if appointed. 

"It's not that long ago that I did run. So my hope at that time was to be able to serve on council and I felt that I had some real contributions to make there and I feel the same," Clarke said. 

• Regional chair recommends appointing Elizabeth Clarke to council

• Late Wayne Wettlaufer's council seat to be filled in 90 to 100 days

However, if council decides to proceed with a byelection, Clarke said she may not run for the job again.

"It's a lot of commitment for a candidate, and a lot of financial commitment and I won't want to make that commitment until I have a better sense of how realistic my chances are." 

Regional council will make a decision on which route to take on Wednesday night.