Candidates have officially all filed their papers to run in this year’s municipal election.
Friday Aug. 21 marked the deadline for residents to sign up to run in the municipal or school board election process.
Election Day is October 26, 2026. In the coming weeks the Lakefield Herald will be publishing profiles on each candidate in Douro Dummer, North Kawartha, Selwyn, and Trent Lakes.
Douro Dummer
In Douro Dummer, there are a total of 17 candidates running in the municipal elections.
During the voting period (which starts on October 13), residents will be able to cast their vote using internet and telephone voting systems and on Election Day there will also be paper ballots to be counted by tabulator.
Candidates include:
Mayor:
• Heather Watson (incumbent)
• J. Murray Jones
• Peter Leahy
Deputy Mayor
• Harold Nelson (incumbent
)• Melissa Webster
• Samantha Turner
Councillor at Large
• Tom Watt (incumbent)
• David France
• Marilyn Turton
• April Hope
Councillor Douro Ward
• Ray Johnston (incumbent)
• Rob Lyall
• Sandra Vaughan
Councillor Dummer Ward
• Jane Cooper
• Nadine Ellis-Maffei
• Regan James
• Terry Little
North Kawartha
In North Kawartha there are eight candidates running and residents and property owners will be able to cast their votes electronically or by phone for the 2026 Election.
Candidates include:
Mayor
• Carolyn Amyotte (incumbent – Acclaimed)
Deputy Mayor
• Colin McLellan
• Ruth Anne McIlmoyl
Councillor at Large
• Guy Sprung
• Joe McCauley
Councillor Ward 1 (previously Chandos)
• John Lovatsis
• Bruce Paterson
Councillor Ward 2 (previously Burleigh Anstruther)
• Jim Whelan (acclaimed)
Trent Lakes
In Trent Lakes there are nine candidates running in the 2026 municipal election.
Trent Lakes will be using internet and telephone voting systems starting on October 13 that will be live 24/7 until the close of voting on Voting Day (October 26). They will also have paper ballots with vote tabulators on Friday, October 23; Saturday, October 24; Sunday, October 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Voting Day on October 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Candidates include:
Mayor
• Terry Lambshead (incumbent, acclaimed)
Deputy Mayor
• John Braybrook (acclaimed)
Councillor at Large
• Carol Armstrong
• Janet ClarksonCouncillor
Harvey Ward
• Lauri Riley
• Peter Franzen (incumbent)
Councillor Galway-Cavendish Ward
• Carolin McGee
• Ira Peters
• Joe Cadigan (incumbent)
Selwyn
In Selwyn Township, they will also offer internet and telephone voting. Eligible electors will be able to vote from a mobile device, computer, telephone, cell phone, tablet, or laptop.
In Selwyn, eligible voters will receive a personalized voting instruction package well before Election Day (October 26, 2026) with details on how to vote online or by phone.
For the 2026 elections, voting will be open beginning October 13, 2026 until 8:00 PM on October 26, 2026.
Selwyn Township will be offering computers and telephones at the Municipal Office (1310 Centre Line, Selwyn) during the voting period for public use during these timeframes:
• October 13: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
• October 12 to 23: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (weekdays only)
• October 26: 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM
Public computers will also be available at all three Selwyn Public Library branches during regular hours of operation, however technical and voting “how-to” support will not be available at these locations.
• Bridgenorth Branch: 836 Charles Street, Bridgenorth
• Ennismore Branch: 551 Ennis Road, Ennismore
• Lakefield Branch: 8 Queen Street, Lakefield
There are seven candidates running in Selwyn Township, including:
Mayor:
• Ron Black (acclaimed)
Deputy Mayor
• John Boyko (acclaimed)
Councillor Ennismore Ward
• Mary Coulas (incumbent and acclaimed)
Councillor Smith Ward
• Brian Henry (incumbent)
• Mark EakinsCouncillor
Lakefield Ward
• Nadine Robinson
• Sue Amsbury
During the elections process, there are certain time-periods where the current council’s powers and abilities are restricted. This period is called “Lame-Duck”.
There are two times during the election process where the restricted lame duck period would be inacted.
The first would be during the nomination period from nomination day (August 21) to elections Day (October 26). This timeframe would only be enacted if it was impossible for less than three quarters of the outgoing council to return in the next term.
This timeframe is not applicable in any of the four townships in the East Kawarthas.
The second timeframe is from Election Day to the end of the term in mid-November only if the final certified election results show that fewer than 75 percent (three quarters) of the sitting council members won their seats back.
If it is found after this date that 75 percent of the current Council will not be returning, the restricted acts must be imposed.
During the restricted acts period, the following acts are restricted:
1) Appointment and removal from office any officer of the municipality
2) The hiring or dismissal of any employee of the municipality
3) The disposition of any real or personal property exceeding $50,000 in value at the time of disposal
4) Making any expenditure or incurring a liability exceeding $50,000
Restrictions 3) and 4) do not apply if the disposition of liability or the purchase was included in the approved budget adopted by Council prior to Nomination Day.
All the above noted restrictions do not apply where authority has been delegated to a person or body prior to Nomination Day. For more details on your local candidates and election processes, please visit your township’s official websites.
Watch in the coming weeks for detailed profiles on each of the candidates in all four townships in the Lakefield Herald.
