Municipal election races are taking shape across Windsor-Essex, with candidates lining up for positions in the region's seven municipalities. However, uncertainty remains around key mayoral contests, including in Windsor and Kingsville, where incumbents Drew Dilkens and Dennis Rogers have yet to declare if they are running again.
Windsor Mayoral Race
In Windsor, no candidate has so far declared an intention to run for mayor. The city does not elect or appoint a deputy mayor. Windsor has 10 wards, each electing one councillor. As of now, no one has registered to run in Wards 1, 8, or 9.
Registered candidates for city council include Nick Markham in Ward 2, Rabia Kirma in Ward 3, Rasha Zaid in Ward 4, Natasha Feghali and Shane Potvin in Ward 5, Owen Smith in Ward 6, Victoria Soluade in Ward 7, and Adam Ibrahim in Ward 10.
Amherstburg
In Amherstburg, three candidates have registered to run for mayor: Frank Cerasa, Frank DiPasquale, and current deputy mayor Chris Gibb, all challenging incumbent Michael Prue. For deputy mayor, current councillor Linden Crain and regular delegation William Petruniak have registered. The town will elect five councillors at large. As of June 14, T.J. Botsford, Lena Lazanja, and Tony Pietrangelo have registered for council.
Lakeshore
In Lakeshore, the mayor's race remains a three-person competition. Incumbent mayor Tracey Bailey is being challenged by Sam Sinjari and Argo Pace. Kirk Walstedt is running again for deputy mayor. Lakeshore has six wards, each electing one councillor.
Ryan Lahoud is running in Ward 1, while no one has yet registered in Wards 2, 3, and 4. In Ward 5, incumbent Ian Ruston is challenged by Tim McDermott. Incumbent Larissa Volger is running again in Ward 6. Connie Buckler, the incumbent trustee with the Greater Essex County District School Board, is running again to represent Lakeshore and Tecumseh.
Essex
Town of Essex incumbent mayor Sherry Bondy is running again, as is deputy mayor Rob Shepley. Both remain unchallenged so far. Essex has four wards. In Ward 1, which elects two councillors, incumbents Katie McGuire-Blais and Joe Garon are challenged by Fred Groves. Ward 2 elects one councillor, and incumbent Kim Verbeek is running again. Ward 3 elects two councillors, and incumbent Jason Matyi is challenged by Bill Baker and Corey St-Onge. Rachel Mills is running in Ward 4, which elects one councillor.
Kingsville
In Kingsville, current councillor Thomas Neufeld and Roshan Nallaratnam are running for mayor. Incumbent deputy mayor Kimberley DeYong is running again. Kingsville elects five councillors at large. Incumbents Sheri Lowrie and Debby Jarvis-Chausse are running again, and Adam Edwards has also registered.
