The former chair of the London Transit Commission (LTC) is the latest Londoner to put their name on the ballot for this fall’s municipal election. On Wednesday, lawyer Stephanie Marentette filed her nomination papers to become a candidate for the Ward 6 seat on council. “Not only can we do better as a city, but we have to do better as a city in terms of tackling some pretty significant issues,” Marentette told CTV News. The decision to run for a council seat comes less than two years after the current council voted to disband the LTC and replace it with a temporary commission composed entirely of politicians. Recently, Marentette expressed vindication after a consultant’s governance review of the LTC recommended returning to an arms-length model that reinstates seats for members of the public alongside council members. It also recommended several changes to improve communication and coordination between the transit commission and city hall. Marentette believes her experience on the commission would prove valuable tackling the city’s biggest issues in council chambers. “What I saw during my tenure at LTC is that these are not issues that a singular person, a singular entity, a singular council, or level of government can tackle,” she said. “[It] means one of the primary things that we need to do much better is being cooperative and collaborative.” Also registered as candidates in Ward 6 are incumbent Sam Trosow, and candidates Ian Sterling Leishman and Naomi Nadea. A third of the way into the nomination period, Marentette is the 61st registered candidate for this fall’s municipal election. The nomination period ends Aug. 21. Londoners will elect a mayor, 14 city councillors and school board trustees on Oct. 26.
