While the list of candidates becoming official today at noon, several have been on the move the last few weeks talking about issues and launching their campaigns.

Fifteen people are running for Cochrane town council and incumbent mayor Ivan Brooker has two challengers in Jeff Genung and Tom Hardy.

There's just under four weeks left before Cochranites take to the polls and since the Labour Day Weekend the campaign has started in earnest for many seeking election. As anticipated, the Sept. 11 council meeting audience included many candidates and councillors seemed to expanded upon their dialogue, some of whom are seeking re-election; others who are winding down their term.

A number of candidates ended up meeting with some west side residents after incumbent council candidiate Morgan Nagel was contacted. They had received an enroachment order from Parks and Pathway to stop cutting the lawn behind their home. Nagel contacted candidates Scott Gibson-Craig and Alex Reed to join the discussion and Dan Cunin, who was door knocking in the area, stumbled upon the gathering..

Off-leash parks has become an issue since the controversy over the new west side park. The Off Leash Advocacy Group, for one, wants to see more off-leash parks established in the community and several candidates have been discussing the issue. Mayor candidate Jeff Genung and candidates Scott Gibson-Craig and Bella Fallis attended a meeting with the Off Leash Advocacy Group, Sept. 15, to listen and join the discussion.

Meanwhile, several have been holding official launches, including Miles Chester and incumbentsTara McFadden and Ross Watson. Others have also been making public appearances, including Marni Fedeyko who had a booth at the first Rustic Charm market held at the Cochrane Lions Events Centre on Sept. 16.

Last night's mayoral debate drew a packed house in the multi-purpose room upstairs in the SLS Family Sports Centre. Moderator Stephen Simms kept the questions and answers flowing on the hot topics of the election and was able to bring it in under the two-hour mark, even after throwing in a couple of extra questions. The better part of that was live streamed on Facebook by CochraneNow.com last night.