List of candidates continues to swell

WELLINGTON COUNTY – The 2026 municipal election is fast approaching.

Nominations for the election opened on May 1 and will run until Aug. 21.  

The following list of candidates reflects those who have registered for municipal council positions as of June 23 at 12pm.

Centre Wellington

Candidates running thus far in Centre Wellington include:

• Shawn Watters, running for mayor;
• Neil Dunsmore, mayor;
• Kelly Linton, mayor;
• Bronwynne Wilton, mayor;
• Lisa MacDonald, Ward 1 councillor;
• Erika Montero, Ward 1 councillor;
• Kimberly Jefferson, Ward 2 councillor;
• Barbara Lustgarten Evoy, Ward 3 councillor;
• David DeWitt, Ward 3 councillor;
• Jennifer Adams, Ward 4 councillor;
• Elnor Walsh, Ward 5 councillor; and
• Pamela Brown-Wass, Ward 6 councillor.

Erin

Candidates in Erin this far include:

• Dusty Scott, mayor;
• Rob Smith, mayor; 
• Benita Raponi, councillor;
• Cathy Aylard, councillor;
• Jamie Cheyne, councillor;
• Alex Zaichuk, councillor;
• Sunjay Bedi, councillor; and
• John Brennan, councillor.

Guelph/Eramosa

Candidates in Guelph/Eramosa include;

• Chris White, mayor;
• Dan Kennaly, mayor;
• Corey Woods, Ward 2 councillor;
• Steven Liebig, Ward 3 councillor;
• Lisa Logan-Dayman, Ward 3 councillor;
• Tara Groves-Taylor, Ward 3 councillor;
• Mark Bouwmeester, Ward 4 councillor; and
• Mark Montgomery, Ward 4 councillor.

Mapleton

Candidates running thus far in Mapleton include;

• Greg Davidson, mayor;
• Alby Mbanjabahizi, councillor;
• Marlene Ottens, councillor;
• Lori Woodham, councillor; and
• Amanda Reid, councillor.

Minto

Candidates in Minto include;

• Dave Turton, mayor;
• Paul Zimmerman, councillor;
• Susan Thurston, councillor;
• Shawn McDonald, councillor;
• Ron Elliott, councillor;
• Joe Park, councillor;
• Mike Roesch, councillor;
• Patrick Raftis, councillor;
• Louise Howe, councillor;
• Judy Dirksen, councillor; and
• Jennifer Gibson, councillor. 

Puslinch

Candidates running thus far in Puslinch include:

• James Seeley, mayor;
• Sara Bailey, councillor;
• John Sepulis, councillor;
• Russel Hurst, councillor; and
• Steven Dorgo, councillor.

Wellington North

Candidates in Wellington North are:

• Steven McCabe, mayor;
• Penny Renken, Ward 1 councillor;
• Wayne Allen, Ward 1 councillor;
• Michelle McInnis, Ward 1 councillor;
• Sherry Burke, Ward 2 councillor;
• Laura Aston,Ward 2 councillor;
• Erin Kiers, Ward 3 councillor; and
• Alex Zantout, Ward 4 councillor.

Wellington County

Candidates running thus far for Wellington County councillor positions include:

• David Anderson, Ward 1;
• Earl Campbell, Ward 2;
• Campbell Cork, Ward 3;
• Stephen O’Neil, Ward 4;
• Mary Lloyd, Ward 5;
• Diane Ballantyne, Ward 6;
• Matthew Bulmer, Ward 7;
• Doug Breen, Ward 8; and
• Jeff Duncan, Ward 9.

School board trustees

Candidates running thus far for school board trustee positions include:

• Andrew Finoro, Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) trustee (Minto, Mapleton, Wellington North, Centre Wellington);
• Kyle Reaburn, WCDSB trustee (Puslinch);
• Rachid Barrima, Conseil Scolaire Viamonde – Office of Trustee (Counties of Wellington, Middlesex, Perth, Huron and the Region of Waterloo); and
• Cassandra O’Donnell, WCDSB trustee position (Erin, Guelph/Eramosa and  Puslinch).