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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday July 1, 2006 - 7 Gareau challenging Sandelowsky in Ward 4 By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Besides a repeat of the mayor's race between Mayor Ann Mulvale and challenger Rob Burton, a few other races are shaping up across Oakville for November's municipal election. Most recently, Jeff Gareau who unsuccessfully ran for council in 2003, staged a press conference Wednesday announcing that he'll once again try for the Town council position in Ward 4. That means competition is building for the Ward 4 Town councillor's seat currently held by Councillor Renee Sandelowsky who was first elected in 2003. While Sandelowsky hasn't yet registered her intention to seek re-election, Jorge Urena of Sequoia Way did register as a Ward 4 Town council candidate on June 15. Although people have been able to register their candidacy for local public office since January -- and some did shortly after New Jeff Gareau Year's -- the list of candidates registering has been growing only slowly over the intervening months. While nominations opened in January, they'll close at 5 p.m. on Sept. 29. Nominations must be certified valid by the Town Clerk who acts as the Returning Officer by Oct. 2 -- the last day for a candidate to withdraw their nomination form. And from then until Voting Day, Nov. 13, the campaign will be on. Oakville currently has six wards represented by two councillors each -- a Town councillor and a Town/Halton Region councillor. In some wards, incumbents have declared their decision to seek re-election and others have declared their desire to compete for the job. In other wards, no news is yet forthcoming. In southwest Oakville's Ward 1, veteran Town Councillor Ralph Robinson registered his intention to seek re-election on Jan. 2. While his counterpart, Town/Regional Councillor Mike Lansdown has not yet signalled his intentions, Hixon Street resident Alan Johnston did announce his candidacy in late January for the Town/Regional councillor's job. Also in January, Ward 2 incumbents, Town Councillor Cathy Duddeck and Town/Regional Councillor Fred Oliver announced they'll seek re-election. No one has yet registered to run in Ward 3 -- no new faces and, as yet, neither of the incumbents Town Councillor Chris Stoate or veteran Town/Regional Councillor Keith Bird. While a race appears to be on for the Ward 4 Town Councillor position, Sandelowsky has yet to announce her intentions. Ward 4 Town/Regional incumbent Councillor Allan Elgar has not yet declared his intentions either -- but neither has anyone else announced their plan to challenge for that seat. In Ward 5, Town Councillor Marc Grant has announced he'll run again and so far has no competition. However incumbent Town/Regional Councillor Jeff Knoll who registered early to seek re-election is facing a challenge from Angus Scott. Scott, who initially registered to take a run at the Halton Regional Chair's position, being vacated by veteran regional councillor and then long-time regional chair Joyce Savoline, withdrew and reregistered to seek the Ward 5 regional council position instead. Former Oakville MPP and Halton MP Gary Carr is seeking the regional chair's job. In Ward 6, neither incumbent, Town Councillor Tom Adams, or Town/Regional Councillor Janice Wright have registered to seek reelection. However both seats are being sought by newcomers. So far, two residents are seeking the Town council seat. Milorad Mitrovic of White Oaks Boulevard filed in February his intention of seeking the Town council seat while Maria Robinson registered Thursday that she too will be seeking the Town Council job for Ward 6. In early June, Marius Frederick of Marlborough Court registered his candidacy for the Town/Regional position in Ward 6. -- Angela Blackburn can be reached at angela@oakvillebeaver.com. SPOTLIGHT Happy Birthday to Zac's Childcare Celebrating a successful year in Oakville! ac's Childcare and Montessori School, located at 609 Ford Drive, between Cornwall Road and Royal Windsor Drive, has marked its first anniversary in business, and their recent celebration was a huge success. "We are very proud of how far we have come in the past year, and wanted to celebrate with the parents and children, staff and friends who have made it all possible," says Joey Zacca, owner of the centre. "It was one way of thanking all our parents and their little ones for making our dreams come true." With programs for infants, toddlers, juniors, preschoolers and Montessori, as Oakville's Z well as subsidized spaces, Zac's Childcare has something for every family, and they all turned out for the celebration that included food and refreshments, a clown making animal balloons, face painting, gift baskets, birthday cake and more. "It was a multiple celebration actually," says Susan Connell, Director of Zac's Childcare, "our one year anniversary, the opening of the infant care facility and the grand opening of our brand new playgrounds. When the ribbon was cut the children raced in to play. It was wonderful to see." The two new CSA approved playgrounds are equipped with rubberized safety surfaces and state of the art equipment designed for age-appropriate physi- cal development. There is no question that business is growing for Zac's Childcare and Montessori School, which Joey attributes to many factors including his professional and caring staff, but primarily to word of mouth of very satisfied parents. For enrollment information please contact Zac's Childcare and Montessori School. INFO AT A GLANCE... LOCATION: 609 FORD DR., OAKVILLE TELEPHONE: 905-849-7474 WEBSITE: UNDER CONSTRUCTION 609 Ford Drive, Oakville Between Cornwall Rd. & Royal Windsor Drive & Montessori School Inspiring Imaginations 905-849-7474