The first two candidates officially running for the new Ward 13 city council seat in Hamilton's municipal election this October are Dundasians with Ontario Progressive Conservative party connections.
Kevin Gray and John Mykytyshyn registered to run for the seat currently occupied by Arlene VanderBeek, on Tuesday, May 1 — the first day to sign up. New nominees can register until Friday, July 27 at 2 p.m. Municipal election day is Monday, Oct. 22.
Ward boundary changes mean Dundas is now one part of Ward 13 after being its own ward since amalgamation. Part of Flamborough, currently represented by Ward 14 incumbent Rob Pasuta, was joined to Dundas to form the new Ward 13.
Changes to provincial legislation have altered some of the rules for municipal campaigns. Individual maximum campaign contributions to a candidate have increased to $1,200 from the $750 cap in 2014, but corporations and trade unions are not allowed to make contributions to candidates. There is also a limit this year on how much a candidate, or his or her spouse, can contribute to their own campaign.
The two candidates for the new Ward 13 were among the first 10 to register last Tuesday.
First out of the blocks was Gray. The Dundas resident previously registered to run for the local Ontario PC party nomination, but withdrew before the vote.
“I am excited to have the new ward boundaries as I think I will bring much support to the Flamborough area,” Gray said, adding he’s lived in Dundas since 2004 and previously lived in Copetown, while his family owned a two acre hobby farm outside Ancaster.
“I believe my previous time living in Copetown and on the farm provides me the insight of benefits and challenges to life outside the core of Hamilton,” Gray said.
He said he currently owns and operates KG Hospitality, a recruitment firm; Beans of Change coffee company offering fundraising programs; and serves as operations manager for a limousine company.
“I know the people of Dundas feel a disconnect with Hamilton and it is amplified the further out you go,” Gray said. “I will improve communication lines and stand strong for the issues important to us all.”
Mykytyshyn, whose father, John, served 12 years as a Dundas town councillor, has worked in provincial and federal conservative campaigns much of his life. He said he helped elect Kim Campbell prime minister, Mike Harris premier and Patrick Brown leader in various roles, but said he currently has no official position.
Mykytyshyn said the Dundas ward has fundamentally changed, creating a greater area for candidates to cover and diluting the voices of residents.
“It’s bad for Dundas and bad for Flamborough and if elected I would work tirelessly to have Dundas have its own ward again and Flamborough realigned to boundaries that reflect the rural nature of the former ward,” he said.
Mykytyshyn said municipal government is where people are served directly and has a direct impact on their lives.
“I believe I have the right experience, the passion, and a way of looking at things and to work with others to come to a solution that others may not even think possible,” Mykytyshyn said.
Gray and Mykytyshyn were the only Ward 13 candidates registered as of Monday, May 7.
The first two candidates officially running for the new Ward 13 city council seat in Hamilton's municipal election this October are Dundasians with Ontario Progressive Conservative party connections.
Kevin Gray and John Mykytyshyn registered to run for the seat currently occupied by Arlene VanderBeek, on Tuesday, May 1 — the first day to sign up. New nominees can register until Friday, July 27 at 2 p.m. Municipal election day is Monday, Oct. 22.
Ward boundary changes mean Dundas is now one part of Ward 13 after being its own ward since amalgamation. Part of Flamborough, currently represented by Ward 14 incumbent Rob Pasuta, was joined to Dundas to form the new Ward 13.
Changes to provincial legislation have altered some of the rules for municipal campaigns. Individual maximum campaign contributions to a candidate have increased to $1,200 from the $750 cap in 2014, but corporations and trade unions are not allowed to make contributions to candidates. There is also a limit this year on how much a candidate, or his or her spouse, can contribute to their own campaign.
The two candidates for the new Ward 13 were among the first 10 to register last Tuesday.
First out of the blocks was Gray. The Dundas resident previously registered to run for the local Ontario PC party nomination, but withdrew before the vote.
“I am excited to have the new ward boundaries as I think I will bring much support to the Flamborough area,” Gray said, adding he’s lived in Dundas since 2004 and previously lived in Copetown, while his family owned a two acre hobby farm outside Ancaster.
“I believe my previous time living in Copetown and on the farm provides me the insight of benefits and challenges to life outside the core of Hamilton,” Gray said.
He said he currently owns and operates KG Hospitality, a recruitment firm; Beans of Change coffee company offering fundraising programs; and serves as operations manager for a limousine company.
“I know the people of Dundas feel a disconnect with Hamilton and it is amplified the further out you go,” Gray said. “I will improve communication lines and stand strong for the issues important to us all.”
Mykytyshyn, whose father, John, served 12 years as a Dundas town councillor, has worked in provincial and federal conservative campaigns much of his life. He said he helped elect Kim Campbell prime minister, Mike Harris premier and Patrick Brown leader in various roles, but said he currently has no official position.
Mykytyshyn said the Dundas ward has fundamentally changed, creating a greater area for candidates to cover and diluting the voices of residents.
“It’s bad for Dundas and bad for Flamborough and if elected I would work tirelessly to have Dundas have its own ward again and Flamborough realigned to boundaries that reflect the rural nature of the former ward,” he said.
Mykytyshyn said municipal government is where people are served directly and has a direct impact on their lives.
“I believe I have the right experience, the passion, and a way of looking at things and to work with others to come to a solution that others may not even think possible,” Mykytyshyn said.
Gray and Mykytyshyn were the only Ward 13 candidates registered as of Monday, May 7.
The first two candidates officially running for the new Ward 13 city council seat in Hamilton's municipal election this October are Dundasians with Ontario Progressive Conservative party connections.
Kevin Gray and John Mykytyshyn registered to run for the seat currently occupied by Arlene VanderBeek, on Tuesday, May 1 — the first day to sign up. New nominees can register until Friday, July 27 at 2 p.m. Municipal election day is Monday, Oct. 22.
Ward boundary changes mean Dundas is now one part of Ward 13 after being its own ward since amalgamation. Part of Flamborough, currently represented by Ward 14 incumbent Rob Pasuta, was joined to Dundas to form the new Ward 13.
Changes to provincial legislation have altered some of the rules for municipal campaigns. Individual maximum campaign contributions to a candidate have increased to $1,200 from the $750 cap in 2014, but corporations and trade unions are not allowed to make contributions to candidates. There is also a limit this year on how much a candidate, or his or her spouse, can contribute to their own campaign.
The two candidates for the new Ward 13 were among the first 10 to register last Tuesday.
First out of the blocks was Gray. The Dundas resident previously registered to run for the local Ontario PC party nomination, but withdrew before the vote.
“I am excited to have the new ward boundaries as I think I will bring much support to the Flamborough area,” Gray said, adding he’s lived in Dundas since 2004 and previously lived in Copetown, while his family owned a two acre hobby farm outside Ancaster.
“I believe my previous time living in Copetown and on the farm provides me the insight of benefits and challenges to life outside the core of Hamilton,” Gray said.
He said he currently owns and operates KG Hospitality, a recruitment firm; Beans of Change coffee company offering fundraising programs; and serves as operations manager for a limousine company.
“I know the people of Dundas feel a disconnect with Hamilton and it is amplified the further out you go,” Gray said. “I will improve communication lines and stand strong for the issues important to us all.”
Mykytyshyn, whose father, John, served 12 years as a Dundas town councillor, has worked in provincial and federal conservative campaigns much of his life. He said he helped elect Kim Campbell prime minister, Mike Harris premier and Patrick Brown leader in various roles, but said he currently has no official position.
Mykytyshyn said the Dundas ward has fundamentally changed, creating a greater area for candidates to cover and diluting the voices of residents.
“It’s bad for Dundas and bad for Flamborough and if elected I would work tirelessly to have Dundas have its own ward again and Flamborough realigned to boundaries that reflect the rural nature of the former ward,” he said.
Mykytyshyn said municipal government is where people are served directly and has a direct impact on their lives.
“I believe I have the right experience, the passion, and a way of looking at things and to work with others to come to a solution that others may not even think possible,” Mykytyshyn said.
Gray and Mykytyshyn were the only Ward 13 candidates registered as of Monday, May 7.