Former city councillor Clive Doucet running for mayor

Jim Watson has some competition. 

With just a couple of hours to go before nominations closed for the upcoming municipal election, former city councillor Clive Doucet entered the race Friday to be Ottawa's next mayor.

Watson was one of the first to register to return to the mayor's chair.

Several others put their names on the list since then, but until today Watson wasn't set to face anyone with significant name recognition.

Doucet decided to run for mayor at 7 p.m. Thursday night, he said.

He wouldn't have done so if there had been a good challenger against Watson, and said he wants to make sure there's good debate in the mayoral race.

Doucet represented Capital ward from 1997 to 2000 prior to amalgamation, and from 2001 to 2010 after amalgamation. He advocated for light-rail transit.

He ran for mayor unsuccessfully in 2010.

12 candidates in total

Ten other candidates are also running for mayor, though none have the same profile as Doucet and Watson. 

Watson told reporters Friday that a healthy field of candidates is good for democracy.

"I wish them well, though not too well," he quipped. "I'm looking forward to a great debate on specific ideas on how to make Ottawa an even better place to live, work and visit." 

The candidates for mayor are:

• Hamid Alakozai.
• Ahmed Bouragba.
• Bernard Couchman.
• Clive Doucet.
• Joey Drouin.
• Ryan Lythall.
• Craig MacAulay.
• Bruce McConville.
• Michael Pastien.
• Moises Schachtler.
• James T. Sheahan.
• Jim Watson.

The election is scheduled for Oct. 22.