Sam Merulla is not seeking re-election after 22 years of service as a city councillor. Host of 900 CHML Adam Oldfield (pictured) is considered one of the race’s frontrunners.
The Ward 4 Cable 14 debate took place on September 14. A replay of the debate can be watched via YouTube. Councillor Sam Merulla retired from Council, leaving the ward a wide-open race.
Ward 4 includes the lower city from Ottawa Street to the Red Hill Valley Parkway, including parts of ArcelorMittal Dofasco, King’s Forest Golf Course, and the Centre Mall.
2022 Candidates (Alphabetical by Last Name)
FRANCIS, Maxwell – Present at Debate
HASBON, Angelica – Present at Debate
HWANG, Tammy – Present at Debate
JOHNSTONE, Alex – Present at Debate
KENNEDY, Cindy – Absent from Debate
MARCHAND, Pascale – Present at Debate
OLDFIELD, Adam – Present at Debate
PARIS, Robert – Present at Debate
TAYLOR, Laura – Present at Debate
TUCK, Eric – Present at Debate
WILLIAMS, Mary – Absent from Debate
Advanced polls are open at Sir Winston Churchill Recreation Centre on the following dates:
Friday, October 7, 2022 – 10AM-8PM
Saturday, October 8, 2022 – 10AM-5PM
Friday, October 14, 2022 – 10AM-8PM
Saturday, October 15, 2022 – 10AM-5PM
Election day is Monday, October 24 and polls are open from 10AM-8PM at 11 locations across Ward 4. To find out your closest location click here.
The debate consisted of a two-minute opening statement from each candidate, questions from local media, and then an open forum period for candidates to ask each other questions.
The ward has a number of well-known personalities such as city hall employee Tammy Hwang, outgoing public school board trustee Alex Johnstone, 900 CHML radio host Adam Oldfield, transit union president Eric Tuck, and “True Hamiltonian” apparel creator Maxwell Francis.
Tuck is endorsed by Hamilton Centre NDP Member of Parliament Matthew Green. Johnstone also has NDP ties as a former staffer for NDP MP David Christopherson. She also ran for the NDP in Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas in 2015 under Thomas Mulcair.
Despite the high-profile candidates, a number of other Hamiltonians threw their hat in the ring and got a chance to introduce themselves to voters at the debate.
“I want this city to thrive in the most sustainable and inclusive way possible. I am an advocate and equity promoter,” said candidate Pascale Marchand in her opening statement.
Parkway Widening
One of the main subjects of debate was whether or not the City of Hamilton should expand the Red Hill Valley Parkway and Lincoln Alexander Parkway to three lanes.
Hwang answered the question honestly that she is undecided on the issue as of yet.
“I want more data” and “community consultation,” she said.
Johnstone and Marchand were adamant that the city should focus on transit rather than expanding highways and mentioned climate change and the environment as the key reason for their opposition.
Tuck is also opposed for environmental reasons and instead suggested building a raised train in the centre median of the Red Hill Parkway and the Linc. The viability and cost of such a plan was not discussed.
Candidate Laura Taylor voiced her concern that widening could cut into the Red Hill Valley recreational trail that runs alongside the parkway.
On the other side of the debate, Oldfield argued that the city has the ability to expand the parkway properly and keeping it at two lanes in each direction is “restrictive”.
With Hamilton’s population expected to grow, he said that its vital that expansion work gets done to alleviate traffic and help grow the economy.
LRT
Candidates also discussed the LRT, with Oldfield noting that while council has already chosen to move forward with the project, there are still several concerns.
He’s wary of the project going overbudget, potential mechanical breakdowns, construction disruption, and “changing the dynamic” of the ward.
2018 Election Results
Sam Merulla – 6,913 – 78.35% (Elected)
Rod Douglas – 1,910 – 21.65%
Note that the author of this article, Kevin Geenen, is running for Ward 5 City Council Hamilton (Gray Rd to Red Hill Parkway plus the Beach Strip). Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Kevin Geenen reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on social media. He is a regular contributor with The Hamilton Independent and has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. He is known for Hamilton Neighbourhood Watch crime updates and no-nonsense news graphics. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal from Governor General David Johnston. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. He currently works as a journalistic writer and office administrator.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
