Voters in St. Thomas, Ontario, will choose from 22 certified candidates for city council this fall, including three contenders for mayor after Joe Preston decided not to run again. The City Clerk’s office confirmed the final list after the nomination period closed August 21, 2026.
Three names are on the mayoral ballot: Aidan Frederick, Corey Janzen, and current councillor Jeff Kohler. Mayor Preston announced in February he would not seek re-election, ending a tenure that began in 2018.
Nineteen candidates are competing for eight councillor seats. Incumbents Lori Baldwin-Sands, Gary Clarke, Rose Gibson, Jim Herbert, Joan Rymal, and Earl Taylor are among those seeking re-election. Rymal was appointed in December 2025 to fill the vacancy left by Steve Peters, who resigned after 30 years in elected office.
Voting runs from October 13 at 10 a.m. until October 26 at 8 p.m. Residents will cast ballots online or by telephone, with tablet kiosks available for those without internet access. Starting September 1, eligible voters can update their information on the voters’ list, and changes can be made until the close of voting on October 26.
Two English-language school board trustee positions were filled by acclamation, as Melissa Knott and Bob Pate were the only candidates. More election details are available on the St. Thomas Votes 2026 hub.
