A mortgage agent on ODSP and an accountant who lives in downtown Hamilton will try to unseat Ward 1 (Chedoke-Cootes area) councillor Maureen Wilson, one of the city's more progressive elected officials.

The west end ward is the home of McMaster University, as well as Cootes Paradise and Chedoke Creek.

It's bordered by the escarpment to the south, Queen Street to the east, Hamilton Harbour and Cootes Paradise to the north, and a green corridor running from Cootes Drive along the border of Dundas.

There are 29,850 residents in the ward.

It has a much higher proportion of residents between the ages of 20 and 34 compared to other wards, newcomers, and educated residents, according to the city's website.

Voter turnout in the area during the last election was 42.5 per cent compared to the city average of 38.4 per cent.

The area has seen out-of-control street parties from students and a massive sewage spill in recent years.

The three candidates for councillor took part in a Cable 14 debate on Sept. 13.

Here are the people running to represent the ward at city council:

MacPherson is 42 and describes himself as an ODSP recipient and mortgage agent.

Describe one pressing issue facing your ward and what you'd do about it: One of the major issues within Ward 1 and throughout Hamilton is traffic safety. The things I would do to address this issue are within my platform and they include reducing the speed limit along all streets and expanding the 30 km speed limit around schools and playgrounds. It is unsafe to be going any faster then 30 km when within a few blocks of a playground or school as kids travel far distances to go to school and play at parks. Another approach I would take is to paint speed limits on the road itself as taking your eyes off the road to find the speed limit sign is distracting, and distracted driving is not safe. My major implementation would be to address the dangerous intersections we have within Ward 1 and throughout the city by installing scramble cross walks along with a delayed light system. I do not believe making dual two way intersections is the best approach economically or for safety. I would also enforce traffic violations by adding more red light cameras and speeding cameras along main streets and side streets. The speed bump system is not as effective as a camera system, or as cost efficient as a camera system would be.

Name up to 3 policies you'd put forward or support if elected: I would support the 10 year plan for our HSR system and instill that our city fix the roads they drive on, not only for the buses but all Hamiltonian drivers. I would put forth that we add a high-speed rail system from here to other cities Hamiltonians travel to for work and entertainment so we can ease the traffic and pollution within our city. Third, I would address the major issue we have of affordable housing by coming up with concrete plans to fix it. This would be something council would have to be 100 per cent cohesive on and I think supporting the HATS [Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters] program is the first step. We need to give them the land they need to start before winter hits. I also would stand firm on the Provincial Policy Acts definition of affordable and suggest that council add it into new development permits that 15-20 per cent of their project be geared to income, meaning rent can be no more then 30 per cent of one's annual income.

Vail is 68 and describes himself as a professional accountant. He says he does not live in Ward 1. He says he has run municipally and provincially before.

Describe one pressing issue facing your ward and what you'd do about it: Public safety. no more fake homecomings.

Name up to three policies you would put forward or support if elected: 1. Transparency. No more secrets. 2. No intensification. 3. Support police not defund.

Wilson is the current councillor for the ward. Before becoming councillor in 2018, Wilson worked in senior staff positions in local and regional governments, and served as former mayor Bob Wade's chief of staff for two years right after amalgamation.

One of Wilson's more recent moves as councillor was to, along with Ward 3 Coun. Nrinder Nann, spearhead reverting Main Street back to two-way traffic.

Her website includes a platform with commitments to improve transit, housing and more.

Some of the highlights include:

The candidates for school board trustees in the area are:

Mark Valvasori was acclaimed as the Catholic school board trustee for Wards 1, 2 and 15.