Want to be a Region of Waterloo councillor? Applications to be accepted to fill vacant seat
Applications will be accepted starting July 2
The Region of Waterloo will be accepting applications for anyone interested in representing Kitchener at the regional council level.
The move comes after the seat was declared vacant during Wednesday's council meeting following the death of Coun. Kari Williams. The mother of two died in April after battling cancer. Williams had served as a councillor for Kitchener since 2022.
Council were given a few options for how they could fill the seat:
- Go to the next candidate with the highest number of votes.
- Seek applications.
- Appoint a person to take the seat.
- Hold a byelection.
With a municipal election set to be held in fall 2026, regional council opted to seek applications for the position.
Applications will be accepted starting July 2 until Aug.1 at 4:00 p.m. The entire list of applicants will be made public before the candidates attend a special council meeting on Aug. 14 to express why they want the job.
"Everyone who applied would be given five minutes to speak to council and explain why they should be chosen," regional clerk Tim Brubacher told councillors on Wednesday evening.
"Councillors would be able to ask them questions like delegations. We would not allow any other delegations. Then a process of voting would begin."
Brubacher says council would vote until one of the individuals received at least eight votes.
The criteria to apply is the same as a regular election. The candidate has to be 18 years of age, a Canadian citizen and either resides or owns property in the Region of Waterloo.
Under the Municipal Act once council declared the seat vacant they would have 60 days to chose the successful applicant.