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THE NIAGARA EDITION

Welland votes · October 26, 2026

Eight candidates. One mayor. Your ballot.

Everything a Welland voter needs: the certified mayoral field, key dates, advance voting locations, eligibility, and the rest of the ballot — drawn exclusively from official City of Welland sources.

  • Voting Day Oct 26
  • 8 certified for mayor
  • Paper ballot

The mayoral race

One mayor, elected at large by every Welland voter. The field below is the Clerk's certified list — names in the city's order, websites exactly as candidates filed them.

Certified · Mayor

Natashia Bergen

Newcomer — no municipal office held

  • Food security: community food programs, urban agriculture, fewer barriers for small vendors
  • Housing First approach to affordable and supportive housing
  • Keep the Welland hospital open; mobile clinics and community health hubs
  • Mental-health, addiction, anti-trafficking, and accessibility initiatives
natashiabergen.com

Certified · Mayor

Pat Chiocchio

Regional councillor; 14+ years on council including vice-mayor; police board chair roles

  • Accountable government: public KPIs and spending tied to outcomes
  • Lower, predictable taxes via efficiency audit and zero-based budgeting
  • Public safety: police collaboration, expanded CORE crisis response, visible patrols
  • Housing aligned with infrastructure plus mental-health and addiction supports
  • Save Welland Hospital campaign; treatment and HART Hub expansion
patformayor.ca

Certified · Mayor

David Clow

No municipal office held — ran for mayor in 2018; community arts activist

No platform published — registry contact list.

No campaign site on the city registry.

Certified · Mayor

Gary Graziani

Newcomer — building inspector; no elected office held

  • Affordability: best value from existing spending before new taxes
  • Accountability and plain-language explanations for overruns
  • Transparency in why decisions are made
  • Infrastructure first: roads, sidewalks, parks, sewers, beautification
  • Hospital advocacy; evidence-led shelter decisions with regional partnership
garygraziani.ca

Certified · Mayor

April Jeffs

Ex-mayor of Wainfleet (2010–2018); not on Welland council

  • Property tax relief and a record of low increases cited from Wainfleet tenure
  • Rein in city spending and budgets described as out of control
  • Alleviate homelessness blocking downtown potential
  • A council described as ineffective brought back on track
apriljeffs.ca

Certified · Mayor

David McLeod

Ward 2 councillor since 2014; budget chair; former vice-mayor

No platform published — registry contact list.

No campaign site on the city registry.

Certified · Mayor

Brandon Simon

Newcomer — never held political office

  • Tax increases kept below inflation; four-year freeze of the mayor salary
  • Affordable-housing tax incentives tied to below-market rents; anti-renoviction work
  • 24-hour Work-to-Live housing, employment, and supports program
  • MyWelland citizen app with verified voting and issue reporting
  • Livestreamed town halls; biennial rental inspections; downtown conversion incentives
mayorsimon.ca

Certified · Mayor

Graham Speck

Ward 5 councillor since 2018

  • Cut wasteful spending; amendments against tax increases deemed unnecessary
  • Challenge regional tax growth and question service value
  • Shelter policy that works for residents, neighbours, and businesses
  • Protect farmland; build where services exist
  • Fight for Welland hospital services; 1.1 parking spaces per new unit
grahamspeck.ca

Platforms above are the candidates' own words, condensed from their campaign sites and linked for verification. Office histories come from city, regional, and police-board records plus on-record reporting. This list mirrors the registry and endorses no one.

Debates

One confirmed all-candidates event so far. No organizer has published a confirmed participant list — appearances below will update once organizers confirm them.

Municipal Debate — Welland

  • Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
  • Royal Canadian Legion Rose City Branch 4, 383 Morningstar Ave
  • Organizer: South Niagara Chambers of Commerce — open attendance, no sign-up
  • Event details

How we list appearances

  • Only organizer-confirmed events appear here
  • Self-organized social-media sessions are not listed as debates
  • Equal rule for all eight candidates, no exceptions

Key dates

  1. May 1, 2026

    Nomination period opened for all offices.

  2. August 21, 2026

    Nomination Day — last day to file or withdraw before 2 p.m.

  3. August 24, 2026

    Nominations certified by the Clerk at 4 p.m. Ballot set.

  4. October 5 – 9, 2026

    Advance voting, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Civic Square, 60 East Main Street.

  5. October 17 – 25, 2026

    Advance voting, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Seaway Mall and Welland Public Library, 800 Niagara Street.

  6. October 26, 2026

    Voting Day, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. One mayor elected at large.

  7. March 30, 2027

    Deadline for candidates and third parties to file financial statements.

How to vote

Are you eligible?

  • Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old
  • Resident, owner, or tenant of land in Welland — or spouse of one
  • Not prohibited from voting under any law
  • Confirm you are on the list at registertovoteon.ca

Where and how

  • Paper ballot — Welland's method since 1968
  • Oct 5–9, 10–6: Civic Square, 60 East Main Street
  • Oct 17–25, 10–5: Seaway Mall + Public Library, 800 Niagara Street
  • Voting Day Oct 26, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Rest of the ballot

Two councillors per ward across six wards under the new boundaries, plus school board trustees. Full names on the city's certified list.

  • Ward 1 – 2 councillors

    5 certified candidates

  • Ward 2 – 2 councillors

    6 certified candidates

  • Ward 3 – 2 councillors

    5 certified candidates

  • Ward 4 – 2 councillors

    7 certified candidates

  • Ward 5 – 2 councillors

    6 certified candidates

  • Ward 6 – 2 councillors

    7 certified candidates

  • English Public trustee – 1

    2 certified candidates

  • English Separate trustee – 1

    3 certified candidates

  • French Public trustee – 1

    3 certified candidates

What the next mayor inherits

Live Welland files from our Planning Tracker — the agenda waiting on the new council's desk.

All Welland coverage →

Questions, answered

  • When do I vote?

    Monday, October 26, 2026, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advance polls run October 5–9 at Civic Square and October 17–25 at Seaway Mall and the library.

  • How do I know I am registered?

    Check at registertovoteon.ca. Also confirm your property taxes support the school board whose trustee you want to elect.

  • Is it true there are new ward boundaries?

    Yes. Welland redrew its ward boundaries ahead of this election. Read the city's ward boundary page to find your ward.

  • Is there a debate?

    Yes — the Chambers of Commerce debate is October 6 at the Rose City Legion. Organizers have not confirmed which candidates attend; this page updates when they do.

  • Where does this information come from?

    Every date, name, and location on this page comes from official City of Welland election pages. Candidate websites are linked as filed and speak for the candidates.

Official sources

Municipal Elections — City of Welland · Registered Candidates · Information for Voters · Ward Boundary Changes