St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston announced on February 10, 2026, that he will not run for re-election in the municipal election later this year. This decision marks the end of his two terms leading the community in St. Thomas, Ontario, as he prepares to move away from public service.
Before becoming mayor, Preston served for 11 years as a federal Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2015. During his time as the head of the city, he oversaw a period of significant growth and economic development for the local area.
Preston has credited the city’s success to teamwork and has consistently chosen not to use “strong-mayor” powers. These are provincial rules that allow a mayor to bypass council votes to make certain decisions, but Preston has maintained a preference for a collaborative governance style.
The announcement signals a major leadership change for the city as it heads toward the 2026 election. Preston described the move as a personal choice to start the next chapter of his life after years of dedication to the community.
