Durham Region: Four council races to watch on election day

With polls open until 8 p.m. today, INsauga's Durham edition has highlighted four council races to watch beyond the mayoral contests: Clarington Regional Council Wards 1 and 2, Oshawa city council Ward 4, Oshawa regional council Ward 4, and Pickering city council Ward 1.

Two of the seats are open because their incumbents are running for mayor: Oshawa city councillor Derek Giberson is running for mayor, leaving the downtown Ward 4 city council seat open, and Pickering councillor Lisa Robinson is running for mayor, leaving the Ward 1 city council seat open.

In Clarington, incumbent Granville Anderson faces newcomer Melissa Whitfield for Regional Council Wards 1 and 2. In Oshawa's Ward 4 regional race, incumbent Rick Kerr faces former councillor Doug Sanders, accountability advocate Jeff Davis and newcomer Jack O'Donnell, with downtown issues including homelessness cited in the race.