Leading up to Di Ianni’s announcement earlier this week, the race for mayor was shaping up as a one-horse race for incumbent Fred Eisenberger.

That all changed Monday, when Di Ianni officially launched a campaign aimed at winning his old job back.

We can’t overstate the importance of municipal elections. The municipal level of government has the most impact on our daily lives. It’s the nuts and bolts level of government. Most of the services we rely upon –be it garbage pick up, road maintenance, parks, water and sewer –are functions of local government.

In 2006, changes to the Municipal Act extended council terms from three years to four years.

However, this important switch failed to engage voters in Hamilton. In the 2006 municipal election, of 340,941 eligible voters, only 126,986 took the opportunity to cast a ballot.

Of the 37.5 per cent who did vote, the race between then incumbent Di Ianni and challenger Eisenberger came down to a few hundred ballots.

Both men will carry baggage into the election campaign, and we expect bloody noses as the gloves will most certainly be off.

Hamiltonians love a good fight, and we expect many will tune in as the punches are thrown.

But the race could get even more interesting.

As reported by Hamilton Community News this week, former Flamborough councillor Dave Braden may also toss his hat into the ring for the mayor’s race. Rumours continue to circulate that Bob Bratina is seriously mulling a run at the city’s top political job.

We say the more the merrier. Having at least two serious candidates –or three, or four, or five –will help engage voters and offer a choice come election day.

Judging by the number of rumours that have been circulating out there, it’s obvious the interest in this year’s election is at an all time high, and many see the next four years as a critical time frame for Hamilton.

Let’s hope that interest translates into more civic engagement at the ballot box this October.

Aside from the more experienced politicians vying for the mayor’s job, there are also some credible, albeit neophyte, newcomers like Mahesh Butani who will undoubtedly make the election race engaging.

Grassroots groups like the Hamilton Civic League and Elect More Women –actively working behind the scenes to engage and empower citizens to take part in the municipal process –will undoubtedly help increase the city’s voter participation rate.

As we head towards October 25, more and more candidates are registering to run, not only for mayor, but for council seats. Nominations close September 10, and we expect hotly contested battles in wards throughout the city.

There is no shortage of issues up for debate, including the Pan Am Stadium situation, area rating, high residential tax rates, crumbling infrastructure, council dysfunction, leadership, public transit/LRT, downtown redevelopment, aerotropolis, urban boundary expansion and flooding. And that’s just a short shopping list of issues facing Hamilton.

We may be smack in the middle of the dog days of summer, but the real heat wave will come in September and October. Here’s hoping the quantity and quality of candidates vying for office helps lift the freeze on voter apathy.