With the nomination period for the October 26 municipal election having closed on August 21, Peterborough County voters are looking for answers from the now-certified candidates for council.
Residents of the eight municipalities that form Peterborough County — Township of Asphodel-Norwood, Township of Cavan Monaghan, Township of Douro-Dummer, Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Township of North Kawartha, Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, Township of Selwyn, and Municipality of Trent Lakes — will be voting for members of their lower-tier councils whose leadership makes up the membership of county council.
In this multi-part series, kawarthaNOW is publishing responses from candidates in each municipality to the question “Why are you running for council and what makes you a unique candidate?” Stories in the series, presented by municipality, will be updated as required to include additional responses received after publication.
The Municipality of Trent Lakes’ council comprises a mayor, deputy mayor, and three councillors, with one elected at large and one elected in each of Harvey Ward and Galway-Cavendish Ward.
Two positions on council were acclaimed after the closure of the nomination period, as only a single candidate was nominated in each position: incumbent mayor Terry Lambshead and incumbent Harvey Ward councillor John Braybrook as deputy mayor.
Incumbent deputy mayor Carol Armstrong is running for councillor at large, along with Janet Clarkson.
Incumbent councillor at large Peter Franzen is running in Harvey Ward, with Laurie Riley challenging him for the seat.
Incumbent Galway-Cavendish Ward councillor Joe Cadigan is seeking re-election in the ward, challenged by Caroline McGee and Ira Peters.
Mayor
Terry Lambshead (incumbent, acclaimed)
kawarthaNOW did not receive a response prior to publication. This story will be updated with any response provided.
Deputy Mayor
John Braybrook (acclaimed)
kawarthaNOW did not receive a response prior to publication. This story will be updated with any response provided.
Councillor at Large
Carol Armstrong
kawarthaNOW did not receive a response prior to publication. This story will be updated with any response provided.
Janet Clarkson
I am running for council because I feel I can make a difference. Ex. I am very involved in the community and have been all my adult life. I have 12 years’ experience on council 8 of those years as mayor and I feel I have gained a great deal of knowledge that I am not willing to waste. I understand the diversity of this very large municipality and can identify with the unique challenges that each area experiences. I have had great success in my previous role both as an elected official and as a private citizen and I don’t intend to stop now! Ex. Keeping our public school in Buckhorn spearheading the buckhorn medical centre and recruiting dr’s and nurse practioner, buckhorn outdoor sports pad, and funding for beaver lake rd. New build for the Lakehurst hall buckhorn tourist centre. I feel we must move forward with promoting business as our tax base is far to dependant on residential assessment. The building process is to cumbersome and our heritage and environment has to be protected much more aggressively if we are to survive.
Harvey Ward
Peter Franzen
I am running for council because of my deep appreciation for Trent Lakes and my passion for serving this community. Having lived in the area for over four decades — including 28 years on Galway Road and 15 years in Pirates Glen — my commitment is rooted in ensuring our municipality thrives today while remaining a vibrant, sustainable place for future generations.
What makes me a unique candidate is the rare combination of hands-on work ethic, extensive civic leadership, and proven municipal experience I bring to the table:
Practical, Hands-On Experience: Working as a stone mason for 58 years has given me a grounded, practical perspective on hard work, structural integrity, and accountability-qualities that directly translate to municipal oversight.
Decades of Dedicated Volunteerism: For over 40 years, I have actively shaped our community’s services. My involvement spans critical local needs, including serving as a volunteer firefighter, chairing the Trent Lakes Library Board and the Pirates Glen Community Association, and serving on health boards like the Kinmount and Area Medical Centre and Haliburton-Highlands Health Services.
Proven Local Leadership: I bring 16 years of direct experience as a Council Member, including 3 years as Deputy Mayor. I understand how local government operates, how to manage major municipal initiatives-such as our key infrastructure and emergency services depots-and how to deliver results while maintaining strict fiscal accountability for our ratepayers.
Ultimately, I combine a deep personal investment in our community’s future with the practical and political experience required to make sound, responsible decisions for the Municipality of Trent Lakes and Harvey Ward.
Laurie Riley
I worked for municipal government for 26 years primarily as City Council’s Assistant before moving to Trent Lakes. That experience gave me the understanding of the importance of the relationship between Council and their constituents. Local government is the most accessible level of government to the public and it should remain that way. In my opinion, customer service is the foundation of everything but especially provides a benchmark to measure accountability and transparency. “Accountability”, “Transparency” and “Integrity” should not be just tag lines to satisfy requirements in Policies. They should actually mean something and be measured to ensure the goals are achieved. I am running for Council because I believe my experience and strong commitment to customer service will ensure Trent Lakes has a good foundation to do great things. Together, we can Build it Better.
Galway-Cavendish Ward
Joe Cadigan (incumbent)
Trent Lakes is a vast rural municipality with large areas of crown land. The beautiful lakes and cathedral like forests are present throughout. These areas need protection and careful management.
I want my grandchildren to be able to enjoy the peace and beauty of this place, that is my motivation for running for council. Safe stable governance is my goal.
I don’t think I’m unique in my desires. I believe most residents feel like-minded and l hope they will support me for a second term of office.
Caroline McGee
I am running for Council because I believe Galway-Cavendish deserves a strong, accessible voice at the Council table — someone who will listen to residents, ask the difficult questions and put taxpayers first.
What makes me unique is the combination of my professional experience, my understanding of community service and my personal connection to local government. My background in healthcare taught me how to make difficult decisions, manage resources responsibly and, most importantly, put people at the centre of those decisions. I have also seen firsthand, through my family’s history of municipal service, the responsibility that comes with serving your community.
I am not running simply to maintain the status quo. I believe we can do better. I want to bring a fresh perspective focused on financial accountability, operational efficiency, customer service and meaningful consultation with residents.
My approach is simple: listen, ask questions, find solutions and be accountable for the decisions we make.
I want residents to know that when they elect me, they are not just electing a councillor-they are gaining an advocate who will be present, accessible and prepared to work hard for Galway-Cavendish Ward.
Ira Peters
I’m running for Council because I believe Galway-Cavendish deserves strong, practical, and accountable local representation. I want to make sure residents have a voice at Trent Lakes Council and that decisions are made with the long-term interests of our communities, families, businesses, lakes, and rural way of life in mind.
What makes me unique is the combination of my military, trades, management, and community-service experience. I’ve spent my career solving problems, managing responsibilities, working with people, and understanding the importance of accountability. My years of volunteer service with the Royal Canadian Legion have also given me a strong connection to our community and a firsthand understanding of the importance of supporting our veterans, seniors, families, and neighbours.
I’m not running to pursue a political career. I’m running to serve my community. I will bring a practical, independent voice to Council, listen to residents, ask the difficult questions, and work toward responsible spending, transparency, and solutions that benefit Galway-Cavendish today and for generations to come.
kawarthaNOW has reproduced written responses from candidates verbatim. Any errors, factual or otherwise, or any use of AI-generated content originate with the candidate.
