With the nomination period for the October 26 municipal election closing on August 21, Peterborough voters are looking for answers from candidates for city councillor who have filed their nomination papers.
In a multi-story series, kawarthaNOW is contacting all registered candidates in each of the City of Peterborough’s five wards — Ward 1 (Otonabee), Ward 2 (Monaghan), Ward 3 (Town), Ward 4 (Ashburnham), and Ward 5 (Northcrest) — for their position on key election issues such as housing, affordability, and council transparency, with comments from new candidates added as required.
In the first series of stories, kawarthaNOW asked candidates to introduce their campaigns by answering three questions: why they are running, what the biggest challenge is in their ward, and what makes them a unique candidate for councillor.
In Otonabee Ward, both incumbent councillors (Lesley Parnell and Kevin Duguay) will be seeking another term in office. Challenging the incumbents are Chris Potter and Jessica Correa.
kawarthaNOW asked each of the four candidates to respond to the three questions in email, and is publishing their answers verbatim with no editing.
Correa, who did not provide responses to the questions prior to publication, subsequently provided responses, which have been added to the story.
1. Why have you chosen to run for ward councillor?
Jessica Correa
I’m running because I love this city, and because I know we can do better. I first moved to Peterborough when I was 18 to attend Trent University from Oakville. I now hold double alumna status, including a Master’s degree, and like so many others, I never left. For 16 years, Peterborough has been my home. I fell in love with this city, its people, its spirit, and its potential. Now, I want to play a larger part in shaping that potential.I believe the best ideas come from the people who live here. I’m running because I believe in collaboration, transparency, and leadership that builds with this community, not for it.
Kevin Duguay
I decided to seek election as part of the 2022 City Council elections, buoyed by encouraging support from ward residents, business owners and many other City residents and groups. I am seeking re-election to continue my Council work to date and look forward to further contributing to the betterment and advancement of our City!
Lesley Parnell
I love this community role. I remain strong, energized, professional, optimistic and dedicated. Now more than ever we need knowledgeable, experienced leaders, who understand our jurisdiction and responsibilities, who work respectfully with staff and colleagues to navigate our changing realities and growing city.
Chris Potter
I’m running because I love Peterborough, and I think a lot of people are tired of feeling like City Hall isn’t really hearing them.
I’ve lived in Peterborough for just over 20 years. This is where I’ve built my life, where I’m raising my son, and where I’ve put down roots. It’s home now in every way that counts.
I keep hearing a lot of the same concerns from people. Life is more expensive. Basic issues take too long to deal with. Residents feel like decisions are being made around them instead of with them. I’m running because I care about this community, and I think council needs people who are willing to listen, ask direct questions, and follow through after the election is over.
2. What is the biggest challenge in your ward?
Jessica Correa
The biggest challenge in Otonabee Ward is that too many residents feel disconnected from decisions that affect their everyday lives. I have heard clearly that residents want to feel safe, connected, heard, and proud of where they live. At the doors and through community conversations, people are raising concerns about safer streets, affordability, parks, trails, green space, growth, and whether City Hall is really listening. Too often, residents feel ignored or left out of the conversation. I believe leadership today should be transparent, present in the community, and focused on listening before leading. I believe the best ideas come from the ground up, not the top down. That means creating more opportunities for residents to share their voice, strengthening community belonging, and making sure neighbourhood-level concerns are brought forward in a practical and reliable way.
Kevin Duguay
Otonabee Ward is comprised of several unique components; neighbourhoods, Sir Sandford Fleming College, major roads, natural areas and parks, community facilities, businesses and more. The challenge will be to ensure the continued healthy balance of all of these components, supported by appropriate City polices, programs and services.
Lesley Parnell
Most of the visible challenges our city faces are under provincial jurisdiction, yet we must deal with the consequences. We must continue to encourage more housing builds as housing is the base.
Speed of traffic in residential areas remains a concern with no easy solution. We have established many Community Safety Zones and set up a dedicated Traffic Technical Working Group to deal with neighbourhood issues more efficiently. Calls of concern tend to be about illegal parking in residential areas or parks and property standard complaints.
Chris Potter
In Otonabee Ward 1, one of the biggest challenges is making sure residents aren’t left behind while the city keeps changing.
People want better roads, safer streets, housing they can actually afford, and basic services that work. Those are pretty reasonable expectations from residents who are already being asked to absorb higher costs almost everywhere else in their lives.
At the ward level, people want to know their councillor is paying attention to the practical things right in front of them: roads, sidewalks, traffic, safety, parks, garbage, transit, and the basic day-to-day issues that affect how people actually live in their neighbourhood.
That’s where I want to stay focused.
3. What makes you a unique candidate for councillor?
Jessica Correa
I believe I bring something distinct to the Council table: the ability to connect deeply with residents while understanding how complex systems work. For more than 10 years, I have built a career at the intersection of sustainability, project management, and community engagement. I am a working professional with experience inside some of Canada’s leading food and consumer goods companies, navigating complex, matrixed organizations where progress depends on trust, influence, trade-offs, and practical action. At the same time, my community engagement work has taught me how to listen and build community belonging. This unique blend of experience shapes how I lead: by bringing people together, making thoughtful decisions, and turning ideas into action. I bring experience in managing competing priorities, measuring progress, managing budgets and resources responsibly, evaluating options rooted in data, facts, and evidence. I’m not coming to the table empty-handed. I’m coming prepared, with the warmth, experience, energy, and practical judgment to serve.
Kevin Duguay
I have 44 years of experience working for and with Municipalities, including 16 years of direct experience as the City’s Land Use Planner. This provides me with strategic insight into City administration, management and operations.
I am also an active community volunteer, including: Rotary Club of Peterborough; 100 Men Club; United Way Day of Caring Event; 5 Counties Children’s Centre (Former Board Member); Kawartha Participation Projects (Former Board Member). This volunteering experience further contributes to my understanding of our community and our collective aspirations, interests and needs.
Lesley Parnell
I came into the community role with business, municipal, provincial and federal government work experience so I had a good base. I now have years of experience in working with community, staff, colleagues, tough issues, and changing landscapes. Knowledge and experience matter. Not just for the ward but for the city. Once a councillor is elected they must take a city-wide view on each decision.
I have also continued my community involvement with years of trail clean ups, Trees 4 Peterborough, fundraising for the Brock rebuild project, zoo train and more. You will often see me at community events — helping or attending — or chatting with people at the grocery store. I am very accessible and willing to help in any way I can.
Chris Potter
I’m not coming into this pretending I have all the answers. I don’t.
What I do bring is a willingness to listen, to do the homework, and to be honest with people when the answer is complicated.
I’ve worked in marketing, communications, acting, community conversations, and political organizing. A lot of that work comes down to listening properly, understanding what people are really saying, and explaining things in plain language.
I think that matters at City Hall. People shouldn’t need a municipal decoder ring to understand what their council is doing or why decisions are being made.
I’m not interested in political theatre. I’m interested in practical decisions, real accountability, and making sure residents can actually see where their money is going.
kawarthaNOW has reproduced written responses from candidates verbatim. Any errors, factual or otherwise, or any use of AI-generated content originate with the candidate.
The original version of this story has been updated to include responses provided by Jessica Correa subsequent to publication.
