Summerside, PEI will have new leadership this fall after Mayor Dan Kutcher officially stepped down on September 1, 2026. Kutcher submitted his written resignation to pursue the leadership of the P.E.I. Liberal Party, leaving Deputy Mayor Cory Snow to take on the mayor’s duties until the November municipal election.
According to the City of Summerside, Snow will continue as Deputy Mayor while exercising the powers and carrying out the duties of the Mayor. City operations and the work of Council are expected to continue as usual during this transition, following the provincial Municipal Government Act.
Kutcher was elected mayor on November 7, 2022, after winning all eight of the city’s wards. In a statement explaining his decision, he said, “Serving the residents of Summerside as mayor has been one of the greatest honours of my life… But, Prince Edward Island feels like it has lost its way. That needs to change. I am stepping down as mayor of Summerside to go all-in for all of P.E.I.” He subsequently became the Liberal Party’s leader-designate on September 6, 2026, as the sole approved candidate.
Residents will vote for a new mayor and council on Monday, November 2, 2026. Three candidates have announced their mayoral bids: Deputy Mayor Cory Snow, former mayor Basil Stewart, and Summerside resident Nathaniel Lykow. Stewart previously served as mayor from 1985 to 2014 and again from 2018 to 2022. Lykow is prioritizing strengthening the electrical grid, affordable housing, and commercial development.
The new mayor and council will be sworn in during December 2026, after the general municipal election.
