The Toronto municipal election saw an open contest for mayor, due to the retirement of David Miller after two terms.
In Ottawa, former MPP and Mayor Jim Watson ran against incumbent Larry O'Brien, who was cleared of bribery charges in 2009.
Some media, including a Sudbury Star editorial which was republished in several other Sun Media newspapers, noted the seeming emergence of a Tea Party mentality in some parts of the province, with a number of self-styled "outsider" or populist candidates – including Rob Ford in Toronto, Joe Fontana in London, David D'Intino in St. Catharines, Rob Matheson in Kingston, Ron Schinners in Sault Ste.
Marie and Marianne Matichuk in Greater Sudbury – campaigning on platforms that traded heavily in mistrust of the existing municipal governments.
[3] The 2010 first season of the TV sitcom Dan for Mayor takes place during the municipal election in the fictional city of Wessex.