October 29, 2026
A Public Record Worth Getting Right
A letter published during the election alleged that Councillor Jo-Dee Burbach and I independently changed committee rules and removed a resident. The City Clerk's documented account contradicts those allegations. I've set out what happened, including links to the original letter and the published correction.
October 27, 2026
The Morning After: A Reflection
My response to the Stratford Times on the day after the municipal election. A personal reflection on the colleagues who will not be returning, the bonds formed over four years, and the responsibilities facing the incoming council.
October 21, 2026
Strong Mayor Powers: What Comes Next?
The first post looked at what the powers could mean in Stratford: leadership changes, provincial-priority by-laws and the cost of major decisions. Now the discussion moves to governance. Which powers will a future mayor delegate where the law allows? How will Stratford put its adopted procedural bylaw to work and preserve meaningful debate and scrutiny?
My priorities include a strong independent council, transparent decisions about The Grand Trunk, and an expanded partnership with United Housing through a proposed revolving housing loan program. Read part two, the original scenarios and the legal sources →
October 19, 2026
Strong mayor powers: the questions voters should be asking
What could actually change in Stratford? A mayor has power over the appointment of the CAO. In Orillia, a mayor rescinded a council-approved CAO hiring and the parties later announced a confidential settlement. The amount was not made public. Certain by-laws related to provincial priorities can pass with only four of Stratford's eleven council votes — the mayor and three councillors could reach that threshold.
What if a future mayor pursued a qualifying housing or infrastructure-related by-law at The Grand Trunk? Could the project scope, financing or long-term costs change? These are illustrations of legal possibilities, not claims about any candidate's intentions. See the infographic, full explanations and sources →
October 19, 2026
More votes, lower turnout percentage — and a mayoral race decided by how many?
Stratford's Monday-noon update reported 2,602 ballots cast (8.9%). At the comparable point in the calendar in 2022, the City reported 2,532 ballots cast (9.6%). There have been more votes, but a lower percentage of the eligible electorate. The voter list has grown.
A caution on the comparison: the 2026 count was taken at noon and the 2022 Day 4 count at 4:30 p.m. Those are different reporting times, so the figures do not establish that the pace of voting is faster or slower at the same point in the day.
In 2022, 11,661 of 26,554 electors voted (43.9%). With an approximately 29,236-person 2026 voter list implied by today's rounded percentage, the same number of voters would represent about 39.9% turnout this year. Matching the 2022 percentage would require approximately 12,835 voters.
If turnout ends near 40% (about 11,700 votes), the mayoral winner might receive 26%, 28% or 30% of the mayoral vote — roughly 3,042, 3,276 or 3,510 votes, respectively, assuming all ballots are valid mayoral votes. Each would represent approximately 10%–12% of all eligible electors. These are possible pluralities, not projected results or guaranteed winning thresholds.
Why a strong, independent council matters
“This is why you need a strong independent council to hold the mayor to account.” — Larry McCabe
The winning mayor can hold strong mayor powers without the support of a majority of eligible electors. That makes the role of all ten independently elected councillors essential: asking questions, testing proposals, requiring evidence and making decisions in public.
Council has meaningful but limited checks. Under Ontario’s strong mayor framework, it takes a two-thirds vote of all council members to override certain mayoral vetoes. In Stratford that means eight of eleven votes, with the mayor also entitled to vote. Some other powers, including certain appointments, can be exercised by the mayor without a council vote. A strong council is not a guarantee against unilateral decisions — but independent scrutiny and public accountability are part of its job. Ontario’s explanation of the powers and checks → Stratford’s mayoral decisions →
The simplest response is to take part in the election — including the choice of councillors, not only the mayor.
Voting information → Official 2022 election results → City's 2026 turnout update →
The 2026 electorate size is an estimate derived from the rounded 8.9% turnout figure. The 2022 turnout total and electorate are from the City's official declaration. Scenario totals are rounded and will change with actual turnout and ballot validity.
October 15, 2026
Thursday campaign hours cancelled — meet me at The Local
My regular 5–7 p.m. campaign hours at 1 York Lane are cancelled this Thursday. I've been lured away by the prospect of a room full of Stratford residents with opinions. How could I resist?
I'll be at the Community Think Tank at The Local instead. The Local is one of Stratford's most important social institutions, and I'm looking forward to hearing ideas, challenging a few assumptions (possibly my own), and talking about where our city goes next.
Thursday, October 15 · The Local, 612 Erie Street · Doors at 5:30 p.m. · Starts at 6 p.m.
If you're coming, please say hello.
October 9, 2026
Behind the scenes: your potato
A little mid-campaign levity, with Fiona keeping me grounded. Very grounded, apparently.
No actual potatoes were unearthed for this video.
October 9, 2026
Beacon Herald candidate profile
Read my candidate profile in the Stratford Beacon Herald’s coverage of the 2026 municipal election.
October 6, 2026
Meet the candidates: Chamber event recording
Thank you to everyone who came out to the Stratford Rotary Complex, and to the Stratford & District Chamber of Commerce for bringing candidates and residents together.
Watch the Chamber’s full recording below, including the councillor candidate introductions and moderated mayoral Q&A.
Watch the full recording on YouTube
Recording: Stratford & District Chamber of Commerce · October 6, 2026.
October 3, 2026
Stratford Cares: housing, homelessness and support
My full responses to Stratford Cares on homelessness, housing instability, mental health and addiction — including permanent supportive housing, rent assistance, a proposed revolving housing loan fund and clear responsibilities for each level of government.
The response is dated September 29, 2026 and is now available on the Stratford Cares website.
September 25, 2026
Stratford Times candidate Q&A
My published responses on growth, the tax levy, housing and homelessness, and The Grand Trunk renewal project appear on page 5 of the September 25, 2026 edition.
September 22, 2026
My housing argument at Finance: build a fund that can be used again
United Housing asked the City to continue exploring a municipal loan of up to $800,000 toward its Brunswick Street housing project. The preliminary project is about $3.925 million, combining municipal financing with fundraising, community bonds and government grants.
My argument at the meeting was broader than this one project. I supported continuing the discussion with United Housing, but asked staff to examine whether Stratford should expand the amount of capital available so that more projects could be supported through a repayable loan model. Instead of treating each project as a direct grant, principal could flow back into the housing reserve and be used again.
That was a request for further analysis, not a final program. A revolving loan fund would still need clear eligibility rules, security, repayment terms and financial and legal due diligence.
As the issue moves to Council, I also want staff to quantify what a larger fund could do. I am interested in a $3-million scenario. Using Brunswick only as an illustration, the same financing ratio would put $3 million of municipal lending capacity alongside roughly $11.7 million from other sources, for about $14.7 million in total project activity. The implied unit count is roughly 34, but that is an illustration rather than a forecast.
I also think the supply question and the affordability question should be separated. A revolving capital fund can help get more housing built; income-based assistance can be directed to individual households where affordability support is needed.
Watch my exchange from 12:15 → Read the housing position → United Housing project →
September 20, 2026
Website launched
The website is live. I wanted a place where you could see what I think, look at my record and get in touch. Have a look around and let me know what you think. You’ll also find ways to help with the campaign and links to the City’s voting information.
Campaign office
Thursday office hours
You’ll find me at 1 York Lane, in the alley behind Pazzo.
Thursdays, 5–7 p.m.
Exception for Thursday, October 15: No office hours tonight. I'll be at the Community Think Tank at The Local, 612 Erie Street (doors 5:30 p.m., starts 6 p.m.). See the update →
Drop in for a conversation. Bring a question, an idea or something you think I should be paying attention to. If you can’t make it, send me a note.
Media & questionnaires
Keeping the tax levy in check
Published September 21, 2026. I was asked what I would cut, defer or change to restrain the levy. My answer was specific: consider selling the Normal School; defer studies, cosmetic upgrades and new administrative positions that can wait; strengthen project management on major capital work; review fleet ownership versus leasing; and quantify the delay in property-tax revenue caused by MPAC assessment timing on new housing.
Read the published answer at StratfordToday →
Positions I have taken at council
The Grand Trunk: move the shared hub forward, keep the City’s financial exposure controlled, test real private-sector interest and do not let the remaining superstructure dictate a project Stratford cannot afford.
Police headquarters: the Wright Boulevard project is estimated at $36 million. That requires strong project management, transparent cost reporting and close control of contingencies and change orders.
Municipal airport: in 2023 I voted against continuing municipal ownership under the proposal before council. I argued that Stratford had major competing capital demands and needed to make difficult choices about what it would continue to fund.
Follow updates
You can also follow along on my usual social accounts.