Ottawa's city election campaign officially begins

Ottawas 2014 municipal election campaign is officially underway.

Some of the people wanting to make themselves eligible for the Oct. 27 vote wasted no time visiting city service centres to hand in their papers.

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Its extremely exciting, I wish the election was tomorrow, said Jeff Leiper, a board member of the Hintonburg Community Association whos running in Kitchissippi Ward.

City hall is coming to us with their minds made up and residents are getting consultations that are sales jobs.

Candidates can sign up until mid-September

Municipalities across Ontario will see voters head to the polls on Oct. 27 to elect mayors, councillors and school board trustees.

To register as a mayoral or councillor candidate, you must live or own land in Ottawa or be the spouse of somebody who is, be a Canadian citizen at least 18 years old who isnt banned from voting by law.

A fee of $200 is charged for people wanting to run for mayor, while the fee to run for councillor is $100.

Roland Stieda visited the elections office on Cyrville Road to sign up as a candidate for Innes Ward.

He said his campaign begins today.

It really is about knocking on the doors, being at the various festivals, encouraging people to get involved in the political process and see that they actually have power to make change, he said.

Desroches won't seek 3rd term inGloucester-South Nepean

Desroches said the decision follows a promise he made to only seek two terms in office.

"It's time for me to turn the baton onto someone else in this community and I plan to honour my pledge," he said. Desroches worked in the federal public service before winning his ward in 2006.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson told CBC News he will run for a second term and this mayors position will be his last political job.

His office said he wont be registering for re-election on Thursday.

Candidates have until Sept. 12 to register.