Peterborough voters may be spoiled for choice in this year’s municipal election with all ward seats (and the mayoral chair) already having numerous candidates registered.
Municipal elections across Ontario will take place on Monday, October 26. As residents of a single-tier municipality, Peterborough voters will elect a mayor, two city councillors in each of the city’s five wards, and school board trustees.
Although incumbent mayor Jeff Leal has yet to declare whether he intends to run for re-election, five candidates have filed their nomination papers so far seeking the mayor’s chair: Micheal Eamon, Jacob Méthot, Neil Morton, incumbent councillor Keith Riel, and Rebecca Schillemat.
Meanwhile, seven incumbent councillors have already begun their campaign for re-election. With 15 first-time or repeat candidates fighting to take their roles, each seat will be hotly contested. The nomination period is still open until August 21, so it’s possible even more candidates may decide to throw their hats in the ring.
kawarthaNOW will be contacting all registered ward candidates to ask for their position on key election issues such as housing, affordability, and council transparency, with comments from new candidates added as required.
Ward 1 – Otonabee
In Ward 1 – Otonabee, both incumbent councillors — Lesley Parnell and Kevin Duguay — will be seeking another term in office.
For Parnell, who filed her nomination papers on May 7, this would be her fifth term as Otonabee Ward councillor, having served in the role since 2010.
“I remain strong, energized, professional, optimistic and dedicated to this important role as your city councillor,” Parnell states on her website.
Duguay is seeking a second term on council after winning former councillor Kim Zippel’s empty seat in 2022. On his website, Duguay lists his four key priorities as being accessible and responsive to ward residents and businesses, working to increase the housing supply, improving the quality of life in the community, and supporting infrastructure investments throughout the ward and city.
First-time candidates Chris Potter and Jessica Correa joined the Otonabee Ward race on May 1 and May 19 respectively.
Potter, who was the first candidate to file in the ward, has said his campaign will focus on affordability and accountability.
“People are already feeling the pressure of rising costs. Every decision at City Hall needs to reflect that reality and focus on where we can deliver the most value for the community,” said Potter in a May 1 media release.
Correa is a Trent University alumna with a background in sustainability and project management. In a media release, she said she is “running to bring practical, community-rooted leadership to City Hall.”
Grief counsellor Noella Koshul filed her candidacy on May 7 but has since withdrawn from the race and endorsed Correa. In a Facebook post on May 29 announcing her withdrawal, Koshul said she wants to see both incumbent councillors in the ward replaced.
Ward 2 – Monaghan
Ward 2 – Monaghan has already seen three first-time candidates put their names forward in AJ Shearer, Jen Lacey, and Ashley Flynn. They join incumbent councillor Matt Crowley in the race.
Crowley was elected to council for the first time in 2022 after longtime Monaghan ward councillor Henry Clarke entered the mayoral race. Crowley, who received the most votes of any Monaghan candidate in 2022, filed his papers for re-election on May 1.
“I’ve always believed that strong communication and accessibility matter, and I’ll continue to make sure residents feel heard, informed, and represented,” wrote Crowley in a Facebook post.
Shearer, a real estate broker, entered the race on May 4. His website highlights affordability, prosperity, and accountability as key facets of his campaign.
“I’m running because I believe we can make smarter, more practical decisions that help keep our city affordable, safe, and moving in the right direction,” Shearer states on his website.
Lacey, who recently was a lead advocate for tenants at 700 Parkhill Road, became a first-time candidate in May 8, identifying affordability and accountability as priority values.
“I’ve worked in systems where people often feel invisible. My goal is simple: make sure the people of Monaghan Ward and Peterborough feel heard, respected, and supported,” she says on her website.
Flynn, a recent Luminary Award winner and owner of Black Rock Developments, entered the race on May 13 positioning herself as a “fresh voice” for the ward where she has lived for the past seven years.
“I have no right to complain about the city we live in if I’m not willing to step forward and try to make a difference,” Flynn says on her website.
As for incumbent councillor Don Vassiliadis, who was first elected to council in 2015, he has not yet announced whether he intends to stand in 2026.
Ward 3 – Town
Ward 3 – Town incumbents Joy Lachica and Alex Bierk officially launched their campaigns together on May 1. They have worked closely throughout their first term, bringing joint motions and generally voting in alignment.
Lachica, who also serves as second deputy mayor, told kawarthaNOW in an interview earlier this year that she is excited to run for re-election and is dedicated to continuing the work she has begun over the past four years.
As for Bierk, he said in a June 5 Facebook post that he wants to continue “to be a strong voice for our downtown, for housing and homelessness solutions, for arts and culture and community groups, and for residents who want a more transparent and accountable City Hall.”
Challenging the two incumbents are Jessica Kuhlmorgen-Hille and Jenni Cathcart, who filed their nomination paperwork on May 1 and June 23 respectively. Both are first-time candidates.
“I want to be someone you can relate to, and rely on, to get things done. I want to help steer this ship back on course for us all,” said Kuhlmorgen-Hille in a Facebook post when announcing her candidacy.
As for Cathcart, she is a career development coach and speaker originally from Wisconsin whose husband is Canadian. The family moved to Toronto in 2017 and then to Peterborough almost two years ago.
Ward 4 – Ashburnham
In Ward 4 – Ashburnham, longtime incumbent Keith Riel has left his seat vacant by entering the mayoral race while fellow incumbent Gary Baldwin, who also serves as first deputy mayor, filed his nomination papers on May 4 to seek a fourth term on council.
Returning to the Ashburnham Ward race is Dreams of Beans owner Andrew McGregor, who failed to unseat either incumbent in the 2022 election. McGregor, who entered the 2026 race on June 16, also previously ran for federal office in 2019 as the Green Party of Canada candidate.
Ashley Bonner, a proud East City resident and community organizer, became a first-time candidate when she filed on May 7. Bonner is the founder of the Facebook group East City PTBO which creates connections within the neighbourhood.
“I’m running because I believe in this ward, I believe in the people who call it home, and I believe we can build a more informed, connected, and resilient community together,” she says on her website.
Jason Stabler, a governance and strategy consultant who has volunteered with numerous community and charitable organizations, launched his campaign on May 28. He previously ran in the 2014 municipal election as a Town Ward candidate.
“I will always act with honesty and integrity, and I am willing to engage in difficult conversations because this community deserves nothing less,” Stabler said in a media release. “We may not always see eye to eye on every single issue, but I will listen genuinely, and act respectfully and you will always be able to trust that I am acting in the best interests of Ashburnham Ward.”
Ward 5 – Northcrest
As for Ward 5 – Northcrest, while incumbent Andrew Beamer filed on May 8 to run for his fifth term on council, incumbent Dave Haacke is not seeking re-election.
First-time candidate Phil Jolicoeur entered the Northcrest race on the first day of the nominations period, May 1. Jolicoeur, who is the owner of Be Your Brand marketing agency, is known in Peterborough for his community and charity initiatives such as Harmony for Healing.
“I’ve spent two decades figuring out how to get things done with limited resources, diverse stakeholders, and real community stakes. That’s exactly what municipal governance requires,” says Jolicoeur on his website.
Another first-time candidate, Gavin Muir, filed his nomination papers on May 19. He has a background as a lawyer, entrepreneur, and professional voice actor.
“Northcrest has been my home for my entire adult life. My kids have grown up here, I’ve volunteered here, I’ve built things here – businesses and a family. This ward isn’t abstract to me. I know it, I love it, and I want to fight for it,” said Muir in a media release.
Paul Lawton, who registered his candidacy on June 5, is a first-time candidate for city council but has previously run a political campaign as the representative for the People’s Party of Canada in the 2021 federal election.
“Paul believes leadership is both a responsibility before God and a trust given by the people we serve. His priorities are practical and local: safe neighbourhoods, responsible spending, supporting families, and well-managed city services,” reads Lawton’s website.
Another candidate with campaign experience is Charmaine Magumbe, who previously ran for city councillor in Monaghan Ward in 2022. Magumbe, who is chairperson of the Community Race Relations Committee of Peterborough and co-founder of the Afrocentric Awareness Network of Peterborough, registered as a candidate for Northcrest on May 8.
According to a media release, Magumbe will focus on affordability, housing, neighbourhood safety, and access to basic needs. She also highlights the importance of environmental protections and green infrastructure.
The registration of photographer Debbie Halstead brings the total number of candidates in Northcrest Ward to six — the most registered candidates of any ward in the city.
The original version of this story has been updated with a correction. Jason Stabler is not a first-time-candidate; he previously ran in the 2014 municipal election as a Town Ward candidate.
