Editor’s Update: Ann-Marie Zammit has officially declared her candidacy and is currently the only registered candidate in the mayoral race. Mat Siscoe has not formally announced whether he will seek re-election. Any references to his potential candidacy are based on the assumption that he may choose to enter the race. In Pelham, former Mayor Dave Augustyn retired in 2018 and did not run for Mayor of Pelham. Marvin Junkin defeated Gary Accursi and Carla Baxter in the 2018 election.
On May 1, those interested in running for municipal offices in Niagara gained access to register. There will be no openings at the regional level because the Ford government is eliminating those positions. As a result, 19 regional councillor seats will disappear, and these councillors must seek jobs in their communities to continue serving as elected officials. Because of the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026, the regional council will have 13 members: 12 mayors and a provincially appointed regional chair. Saving a discussion about democratic legitimacy for later, the reduction in the number of politicians will create interesting races in several municipalities throughout the region. Over the span of three articles, this author will attempt to present scenarios that could literally change the faces of the region at the end of 2026. See this LINK for part one.
Having covered the eastern municipalities of Niagara, turning to the centrally located areas will encompass St. Catharines, Niagara’s largest city; Welland; Thorold; and Pelham. These jurisdictions have well-entrenched leaders, but change may be on the horizon in a couple of these communities. One thing to keep in mind is the machinations of the provincial government in these matters. The premier and his team have wishes in Niagara, and placing the right people in different places will require sophisticated political engineering. Interference from the federal level will be muted, but the ramifications for the Ford government will demand the attention of the political powerbrokers at Queen’s Park.
ST. CATHARINES (Population – 152,958)
Ann-Marie Zammit is currently the only officially registered candidate in the mayoral race. However, assuming Mat Siscoe decides to seek re-election, he would enter as the clear frontrunner based on his dominant 2022 performance, where he secured nearly 70 per cent of the vote against Mike Britton. Britton could run again, but the previous margin suggests a difficult path. As for Sal Sorrento, the former PC provincial candidate, or Brian Heit, there does not appear to be an appetite to take on Siscoe. If Siscoe confirms a re-election bid, the current field suggests he would be strongly positioned heading into the campaign.
WELLAND (Population – 52,293)
As serene as the race appears in St. Catharines, Welland could provide a rockier ride. Indications are that Mayor Frank Campion will not seek re-election, instead hoping to be appointed as the Regional Chair of the recently reconfigured council. This opening will attract candidates. Councillor Graham Speck has already announced his intention to run after eight years on council. Speck has spoken out about the “strong-mayor powers” and will advocate for new leadership in the city. Pat Chiocchio, soon to lose his seat on regional council, has expressed interest in the job. Despite his complete lack of prior political experience, Brandon Simon, new to the political arena, is planning to declare his intention to run for the highest political office in Welland. And in the wings, there is speculation regarding whether April Jeffs, the former mayor of Wainfleet, could return to public life in the city she now calls home.
Speck plans to run on the idea of “new leadership,” but many believe his bid follows his exclusion from the position of vice-mayor in a December 2025 incident. Speck’s personal motivations might drive his campaign, but will this justify his promotion to oversee the Welland council? As for Chiocchio, he has experience on regional council and as chair and vice-chair of the Police Service Board. His re-election website to council has remained active, suggesting the long-time politician may be keeping his options open. Meanwhile, Simon and Jeffs reflect opposite ends of the service spectrum. Simon, an adopted orphan from the Romanian communist regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu, grew up in Aurora but has used his entrepreneurial skills to build companies and has some innovative ideas to increase democratic participation within the voting public. As for Jeffs, her many governmental roles, past and present, including several years serving as the constituency office manager for Niagara Falls Member of Parliament Tony Baldinelli, would make her a strong candidate, though many remain skeptical she will run. Appointed chair in March 2026 of a Source Protection Committee charged with ensuring the preservation of municipal drinking sources, Jeffs also serves as the secretary for the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission and is a Senior Government Relations Advisor at Brock University. When the dust settles, the Welland race may have held the most intrigue.
THOROLD (Population – 23,837)
The upcoming retirement of Mayor Terry Ugulini means that the mayoral position in Thorold will be up for contention. Tim Whelan, a veteran regional representative and CEO of the Thorold Community Credit Union, officially entered the race to succeed Ugulini when the registration office opened on May 1. He is campaigning on his extensive financial management experience and long tenure in municipal politics. At age 73, Whalen has performed many jobs at the city and regional level and will be committed to keeping costs down and taxes low. “Twenty-three years in politics, representing the people of Thorold,” Whalen said. “It’s time I stepped up and applied for the mayor’s job.” Mike Divitiis has also announced a run, registering on opening day. Divitiis told Pelham Today, “I’m proud to serve as a councillor, which has given me time to see what works — dedicated staff, improvements to the downtown core, and an openness to change. But also some insight into what could be better — more efficiency in operations, more civility at council meetings and better customer service for residents.” Divitiis has served one term on council, making this a race between an experienced representative and a younger alternative.
PELHAM (Population – 18,115)
Mayor Marvin Junkin won re-election in 2022 with 58% of the vote. Having defeated Gary Accursi and Carla Baxter in the 2018 election, Junkin looks to advance to his third term in office. Officials confirmed that a significant number of his potential rivals, including councillors Kevin Ker, Brian Eckhardt, Bob Hildebrandt, and Shellee Niznik, completed the necessary paperwork to seek re-election to the council. Junkin opposes talk of amalgamation and will oversee more efforts to improve infrastructure and increase housing builds.
Nominations opened on May 1. A healthy democracy encourages political participation. No one deserves anyone’s support; all must earn it. Public service comes in many forms. Holding elected office remains an important and trusted responsibility. These offices belong to the people, not the person who holds them. Let’s hope Niagara fields a robust list of candidates for all its offices. The next column will consider four more mayoral races in Niagara.
Dave Redekop is a retired elementary resource teacher who worked part-time at the St. Catharines Courthouse as a Registrar until being appointed Executive Director at Redeemer Bible Church in October 2023. He has worked on political campaigns since high school and attended university in South Carolina for five years, earning a Master’s in American History with a specialization in Civil Rights. Dave loves reading biographies.
