There was some drama Friday at the deadline for candidates to enter the fray of municipal politics.Coun. Larry Jangula resigned his seat to take on Mayor Greg Phelps. Their polar-opposite stand on a homeless shelter might be a defining fault line. Bill Bate makes for an interesting three-way race.Since Murray Presley is leaving council, that leaves room for two newcomers.Incumbents Jon Ambler, Doug Hillian, Ronna-Rae Leonard and Manno Theos will face 12 other hopefuls, including ex-mayor Starr Winchester, former school trustee Jean Rowe and former candidates Erik Eriksson, Norm Reynolds and John Van Egmond.Voters will have quite a choice between left-leaning and business-friendly hopefuls.In Comox, Mayor Paul Ives must defend his seat against Bernie Poole, who has some profile as a real estate agent.Incumbents Ken Grant, Tom Grant, Russ Arnott, Patti Fletcher, Marcia Turner and Hugh MacKinnon will contend with as many challengers, who include former council members Don Davis and Barbara Price, former candidate Terry Chester, well-regarded hospice volunteer Maureen Swift and Dave Procter, another high-profile real estate agent.With Fred Bates leaving the Cumberland mayor’s chair, Leslie Baird was rewarded by moving up and being elected by acclamation. Even if Gwyn Sproule and Kate Greening successfully defend their seats, two vacant seats on council will be filled by newcomers, who include NDP-connected Roger Kishi, former councillor Leona Castle and wheelchair-bound Conner Copeman.All three regional district area directors were unchallenged and only the Cumberland seat on the school board will be contested, by former chair Rick Grinham and Yolanda Goodwin. Four of seven trustees will not defend their seats and six other trustees are in by acclamation.Not so elsewhere, including the four Islands Trust seats between Denman and Hornby.See you at the polls Nov. 19.editor@comoxvalleyrecord.com

Comox Valley Record