Municipal election gives Kawartha Lakes voters plenty to consider

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: With voting underway and a crowded field of candidates vying for municipal office, residents across Kawartha Lakes have until Monday, October 26th to decide who will lead their communities for the next four years.

The 2026 municipal election opened Friday, October 16th, with voters able to cast their ballots online, by telephone, or in person using touch-screen voting kiosks at designated locations.

Five candidates are seeking the mayor's chair, while all eight council wards feature contested races, giving voters a wide range of choices, for the city's next municipal government.

The mayoral contest includes, current Ward 6 Councillor, Ron Ashmore, who is leaving his council seat to run for the city's top elected position. He is facing Mathew Flynn, Charles McDonald, Doug Ford, and David Korn.

The mayor's race has also created an open seat in Ward 6, where Mary Ann Martin and Jasmine Marshall are competing to become the ward's next councillor.

Several incumbent councillors are seeking re-election.

Pat Warren is running for another term in Ward 2, against Terry Blackmore, while Mike Perry is seeking to retain his Ward 3 seat, against Jim Greensides.

In Ward 4, incumbent Dan Joyce faces four-way competition from Guru Bhat, Shannon Reddom, and Ron Ross.

Ward 5 incumbent Mark Doble is being challenged by Joseph Abbott. Christopher Rinella, who initially entered the race, withdrew his candidacy, on June 18th.

Ward 1 has the largest field of council candidates, with Jennifer Sherry, Don Logan, Brian Bartley, Jennifer Silverthorne-Litton, and Vicki Taylor all seeking the seat.

In Ward 7, Liam Bruyn and Eric Smeaton are competing for the position, while Wyatt Colazzi, Tom Hickey, and Steve Lesperance are seeking election in Ward 8.

The Ward 7 contest changed earlier in the campaign when Charles McDonald withdrew his candidacy, on June 1st before entering the mayoral race.

Candidates have been seeking support on issues expected to shape the municipality's direction over the next four years, including: taxation, roads and infrastructure, housing, growth and development, economic development, recreation, and the delivery of municipal services.

Those priorities carry different implications, across Kawartha Lakes, a geographically extensive municipality which includes Lindsay, numerous smaller communities, and rural areas. The next council will be responsible for balancing the needs of those communities while making decisions about infrastructure investment, future development, and the cost of local services.

With voting now open, residents are encouraged to make their selections before the deadline, rather than leave the process until the final hours.

Voters can cast their ballots online, through the city's election website, at https://kawarthalakes.simplyvoting.com/, or by calling 1-844-513-0200. A voting PIN is required to access the system.

Residents should have received a voting PIN letter in the mail. Anyone who has not received one can register through the city's voter services website, or obtain assistance from the Election Office at City Hall, 26 Francis Street, in Lindsay, or at a municipal service centre.

Residents, without internet access or a touch-tone telephone at home, can visit a municipal service centre or a participating Kawartha Lakes library branch, during the applicable hours, to use public computers or touch-screen voting kiosks.

Voters are encouraged to check the city's voter services website, to confirm their information and review available voting assistance options.

For election-related questions, residents can contact the Office of the City Clerk or the Election Office at City Hall by calling 705-324-9411, ext. 1888.

Voting closes at 8 p.m., on Monday, October 26th.