With the 2026 Municipal Election less than three weeks away, the Brant Beacon reached out to the candidates running for Mayor in the City of Brantford. Candidates were asked to answer questions regarding relevant election issues, providing residents with valuable insight before heading to the polls on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Editor’s Note: Candidate Richard Michael Misura did not respond to the questionnaire in time for publication.
Ricky Willdy
Why did you choose to run for Mayor?
I chose to run because I love Brantford, but I also think municipal government can be simpler than we sometimes make it. I’m a teacher and someone who has spent years involved in community events here, not a career politician.
I want City Hall focused on doing its basic responsibilities extremely well: spending people’s money carefully, maintaining infrastructure, keeping the community safe, supporting responsible growth and being transparent with residents.
I also have two young nephews growing up in Brantford. I want them, and all young people in our city, to inherit a Brantford where they feel safe downtown, can afford to live here when they’re older, and have opportunities to succeed.
In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues facing the municipality?
Managing Brantford’s growth while maintaining affordability and quality of life is the biggest overall challenge.
We’re dealing with housing affordability, traffic and infrastructure pressures, homelessness and addiction, concerns about downtown safety, and property taxes at a time when families are already dealing with a high cost of living.
I’m particularly concerned about downtown. I watched it improve dramatically from roughly 2009 to 2019, and I’m nervous we’re losing some of that progress. We need to help people experiencing homelessness and addiction while also making sure families, students, businesses and residents feel safe using our public spaces.
If elected, what would your top priorities be and why?
My priorities would be keeping property-tax increases as low as reasonably possible, making sure infrastructure and emergency services keep pace with growth, improving housing supply, supporting local businesses and restoring confidence in downtown.
As a teacher, I also want to introduce literacy and fitness incentives for Brantford residents under 18 through partnerships with libraries, recreation facilities, businesses and educational institutions.
I’d also prioritize transparency. Residents should understand where their money is going, why major decisions are being made and whether publicly funded programs are actually producing results.
Ultimately, I don’t want City Hall running people’s lives. I want it running Brantford well.
What are some of the issues or concerns that you have heard about from residents?
I’ve heard a remarkable amount about homelessness, addiction and public safety. Residents have told me they no longer feel comfortable using certain parks and trails, businesses have described open drug use and threatening behaviour outside their doors, and families and students have raised concerns about downtown.
I’ve also heard repeatedly about speeding in residential neighbourhoods, traffic congestion, particularly involving West Brant, housing costs, property taxes, protecting farmland and natural areas, and making sure our fire and emergency services keep pace with growth.
One thing I’ve appreciated during this campaign is how specific people have been. They aren’t just telling me what’s wrong; they’re telling me what they’re experiencing on their street or in their neighbourhood.
How would you improve the relationship between your municipal neighbours?
I’d favour regular communication and collaboration with the County of Brant and Six Nations rather than waiting until there’s a disagreement over development, roads or boundaries.
Projects such as the Oak Park Road Extension demonstrate why these relationships matter. If we’re considering major infrastructure that affects neighbouring communities, those conversations need to happen before construction;
not after a road opens and unresolved concerns result in conflict.
I want respectful relationships based on consultation, transparency and recognizing that we’re neighbours regardless of municipal boundaries.
What are your thoughts on the Strong Mayor Powers? Would you use them? If so, why?
I would use Strong Mayor powers sparingly and transparently.
My preference would always be to work collaboratively with Council and build consensus. However, I wouldn’t completely rule out using those powers where there’s a clearly demonstrated need and doing so is legally appropriate.
If I did use them, residents should know exactly what power I used, why I used it, what it will cost and what I expect it to accomplish.
Being elected Mayor shouldn’t mean having a licence to ignore Council or the public simply because they disagree with you.
How would you describe yourself to the constituency?
I’m probably not the traditional image people have of a mayoral candidate. I’m a teacher, a professional wrestler and someone who genuinely loves Brantford.
I’m new to politics, and I’m comfortable admitting when I don’t know something rather than pretending to have an answer because I’m running for office.
Politically, I believe government should focus on the things it genuinely needs to do, do those things extremely well, spend taxpayers’ money carefully and otherwise give people as much freedom as reasonably possible.
I’m also willing to listen. I’ve changed or developed positions during this campaign because residents have raised perspectives or ideas I hadn’t previously considered. I don’t think being Mayor means being the smartest person in every room. It means listening to the people who know an issue, asking good questions and being accountable for the decisions you ultimately make.
Leslie Bory (No photo submitted)
I am running to be Mayor of Brantford to provide leadership for people who want homelessness dealt with, because it’s a life and death issue. I am running to do what I can to make sure there is no flouride added to our drinking water. I am running to freeze property taxes to prevent homelessness. I am willing to lead by example and donate more than half of my pay as Mayor toward removing the surveillance infrastructure being set up around the city for the 15 minute city lockdowns.
In my opinion during this time of economic crisis we need to divert resources to put people into buildings and feed them. Homelessness is the most pressing issue hands down.
My top priorities will be very basic but necessary in this economic crisis. It will be to feed and house people and to protect them from genocidal globalists as well as a Mayor can.
People are concerned about police corruption, political corruption, medical corruption, agricultural corruption, media corruption after the vaccine genocide and lockdown terrorism. They are also very concerned with the surveillance cameras being installed with sensors and microphones and speakers on our street lights by the government that locked them down and vaccinated them I will treat our municipal neighbours the way that we would like to be treated as a basic mode of operating.
I would veto something if I thought that it was harmful to the public. Instead of using them to trap the people of Brantford in 15 minute cities I would use the Strong Mayor Powers to dismantle the capacity of globalists to control the City remotely .
I would describe myself to the constituency as not being a quitter because I believe that the people are noticing the same things that I have been for a while now and they are now ready to vote their way out of communism into Nationalism.
Rose Sicoli
Why did you choose to run for Mayor?
My father worked at Namasco Steel, so my family has always had close ties to Brantford.
Like a lot of Brantford residents, I moved here 20 years ago with a young family to find affordable housing and better opportunities. My working career started as a medical lab assistant. Since then, I’ve started several small businesses.
For 15 years I’ve worked in real estate and that has taken me to every corner of the city where I’ve talked to thousands of people about what they like and don’t like about Brantford.
I realized I wanted to be part of solving those problems. That led me to city hall where I’ve been a councillor for five years and the Deputy Mayor for External Relations.
I want to make sure that my two daughters, and everyone’s children, have the same opportunities I had to build a career, find a place to live and prosper in a vibrant community.
In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues facing the municipality?
These are the key issues:
- Dealing with the problems of homelessness and addiction that are affecting Brantford and cities across Ontario.
- Making sure our first responders – police, fire and paramedics – are trained and equipped so they can respond to changes brought on by growth.
- Solving many of our traffic problems by building the West Brant Access to better connect the 22,000 people of West Brant to the rest of the city and highway 403.
- Improving and expanding our transit systems
- Improving our health care system with a new hospital and new doctors.
If elected, what would your top priorities be and why?
Here’s how I would address those issues:
- Homelessness and addiction: We need a HART Hub (Homelessness and Addiction Recovery and Treatment). It offers treatment and helps people on the road to recovery. After completing the program, they will be offered a place to live at our new transitional housing project at the former Fox Ridge retirement home. There they will get help find a job and get their own place to live. Recently I met Sylvia Jones, the Ontario Minister of Health to ensure Brantford is included in the next group of cities to get a HART Hub.
- First responders: Our city is growing in population. It’s also growing upwards, with new, taller residential buildings. A new training facility will provide first responders with the skills they need to handle these changes. We must implement our new Fire Plan to make sure we have a fire department that matches our growing city. We also need to keep the Henry Street ambulance station open to serve a part of the city where a lot of growth is projected.
- Traffic problems: The most important thing is to build the West Arterial Road, which will link West Brant and its 22,000 people to Highway 403 with a new bridge across the Grand River. This has been studied for 30 years. This is not a West Brant issue. The lack of this road is causing congestion in the downtown, in Eagle Place and on roads in Brant County. The route is entirely within the city. The cost will be covered by money collected from development charges.
- Health care: The province is planning a new hospital, but we need to continue pushing to keep it on track. We also need to raise the community share of the cost – as much as $300 million. The community also needs more doctors so we must step up our recruiting program to get more to move here.
What are some of the issues or concerns that you have heard about from residents?
The two issues I hear most about are homelessness and traffic problems.
How would you improve the relationship between your municipal neighbours?
The relationship between Brantford and Brant County has never been an easy one. It’s hard to rebuild the relationship when we’re carrying the ball and chain of 30 years of troubled relationships.
We need a fresh start. Brantford will have a new mayor this year and so will Brant County. We need to get together soon to look at putting the past behind us and finding how we can co-operate to build a better future together. There are lots of things we can look at: transit, roads, industrial development, tourism and others. The most important thing is to approach the relationship with an open mind and in a spirit of co-operation and collaboration.
We also must continuing building our ties with the First Nations in our region. Recently, Brantford and Six Nations signed an agreement – a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) — that establishes a framework for our relationship for years to come. We hope this will reduce some of the frictions of the past and enable us to work together for the benefit of both communities
What are your thoughts on the Strong Mayor Powers? Would you use them? If so, why?
The Ontario government gave mayors a new powers in order to advance provincial goals in several areas, such as housing, infrastructure and transportation.
The provincial law spells out things that the mayors must do. For example, mayors must present a budget to council and have ultimate responsibility for it being implemented.
However, it is also possible for the mayor to have the whole council exercise some of the “strong mayor” powers.
A wise mayor will always work collaboratively with other members of council to ensure they are part of the discussion and part of the decision-making process. That has been our approach and that’s the way I would handle it.
How would you describe yourself to the constituency?
I think my story is like that of a lot of other Brantford people. I came here seeking a better life for my family.
Brantford gave me the opportunity to do that. But nothing gets handed to you. I’ve always believed that hard work pays off so that’s what I did to reach my goals.
As an entrepreneur, community volunteer and city councillor, I’ve spent my life bringing people together and getting things done.
I’ve learned that customer service, whether it’s clients or constituents, is the secret to success. It starts and ends with treating people fairly.
Dan McCreary
Why did you choose to run for Mayor?
Brantford is a growing city. The office of Mayor isn’t for the faint of heart nor is it about photo ops and slick videos.
My business, governance and life experience place me ideally to lead the City of Brantford. We are a $ quarter billion operation with dozens of business and operating divisions.
In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues facing the municipality?
- Affordability. I will cap annual tax increases at no more than 3%.
We all feel the pinch from food and fuel inflation. A maximum 3% increase allows us to honour collective agreements and mitigate inflationary increases while putting taxpayers first and making life less expensive for you.
I will also aggressively seek out companies to relocate and commence operations here in Brantford to create good, high paying jobs and add to the tax base. Increasing good local jobs means shorter commutes, more time with families and less expense.
If elected, what would your top priorities be and why?
- Cap tax increases at 3% or less
- Continue to provide adequate resources for emergency services
- Develop stronger relationships with our arts, culture and heritage partners
- Address homelessness
- Review and enhance municipal bylaws
- Ensure Brantford residents feel safe and are safe
- Get good new housing built quickly
- Attract good new jobs so residents have shorter commutes
- Better regulate e-scooters and other emerging modes of transit
- Complete and adopt our public engagement policy review
What are some of the issues or concerns that you have heard about from residents?
The number one question.
What are you going to do about open drug use and occupation of our parks, trails and public spaces by homeless people?
It’s a complex problem.
Most of our really good enforcement tools are long gone – undone by senior levels of government and unelected judges living in unaffected neighbourhoods.
First, many of these folks are from other cities and have ended up here for one reason or another.
We’re going to repatriate these folks to their home communities to be near friends, family and their support network.
Secondly, we’ll continue to offer help to those who want it. We do a great job of that.
Thirdly we’ll address those who choose to live outdoors or have lost the capacity to make rational choices due to drugs and mental health issues.
We’ll get them out of our parks, trails and university district.
We’ll look at options to provide alternative zero cost outdoor spaces for these folks. Spaces that don’t impact residents from using trails and parks. Spaces that don’t impact neighbourhoods. Spaces where charities can set up shop to provide assistance, food and necessities.
We’ll also lobby big government to create mental health and addiction spaces.
And lobby big government to end the catch and release injustice system.
And we’ll also attend bail hearings to oppose release for chronic offenders.
How would you improve the relationship between your municipal neighbours?
The relationship with County of Brant has soured due to conflict between the two current mayors.
I’ve enjoyed an excellent working relationship with members of county council and their staff. County Councillor Robert Chambers and I created the Partnership in Prosperity framework that led tom the original boundary adjustment.
As mayor, I’ll mend the relationship and proceed to do good things cooperatively together.
What are your thoughts on the Strong Mayor Powers? Would you use them? If so, why?
As your mayor I will accept responsibility for the municipal budget process.
I will not wield strong mayor powers.
I will also continue our practice of relying on our staff and councillors to formulate and make decisions.
How would you describe yourself to the constituency?
I’ve demonstrated Strong. Sensible. Leadership for more than 20 years as your Ward III City Councillor.
I’ve also demonstrated leadership as a business owner, operator and manager. And as an employer, an investor and as a trusted Brantford Expositor columnist.
At a time in history when more than half of the new council will be rookies, it is important that your mayor has a proven record of seeking and achieving consensus.
Richard Carpenter
Why did you choose to run for Mayor?
I believe we need strong leadership and experience. Someone who is open to communication and honest with the people. Someone who believes in transparency and a strong municipal government. Someone who believes in listening to you. Not just now but in the future. I know that going forward with several new council members, I know we must work together. I know that I have that leadership to bring the new members of council and our neighbours, the county and Six Nations together to build a better Brantford.
In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues facing the municipality?
Getting Brantford a new hospital that is properly staffed to accommodate the growing population is very important and pressing. We need to ensure that our community has access to essential medical needs in a timely manner. This is followed closely by drug addiction and homelessness. I have a plan for this. Starting with a housing first approach with wraparound services.
If elected, what would your top priorities be and why?
The new hospital. This is long overdue. I would like to continue to build a stronger relationship with the county and Six Nations. A strong relationship built on trust, respect, and transparency, because together we can do so much more.
What are some of the issues or concerns that you have heard about from residents?
Homelessness and addiction are a big issue. Residents are always concerned with traffic flow and speeding. Resident safety is always a concern for me. Ensuring that all residents feel safe and addressing their concerns is very important to me. Which is why I will hold a townhall once a month to allow any resident to speak openly about their concerns. Communication is key.
How would you improve the relationship between your municipal neighbours?
I have a great relationship with the county and Six Nations. I will meet with them, get to know who they are, what their goals are, and do so with respect. I believe I can bring my current relationship with our municipal neighbours into the mayor’s office. This will benefit everyone when we work together.
What are your thoughts on the Strong Mayor Powers? Would you use them? If so, why?
No, I do not agree with them. They are antidemocratic. If you believe in democracy and those who have fought for our freedoms, you will recognize that.
How would you describe yourself to the constituency?
I am respectful. I listen. I care. I believe in helping your neighbours. Over the years, my constituents have become my friends and extended family. When someone is in need, I help them. If I cannot help them, I find someone that can. I want to extend this relationship to everyone across the city. I am compassionate, transparent, and kind. I have the ability to work with anyone to find the best solutions for they city as a whole.
Everyone has different needs and visions. I want to ensure that everyone is taken care of to the best of my ability as the leader of the city. Together with Council and our neighbours, the county and Six Nations, I believe we can build a better Brantford.
Mandy Samwell
Why did you choose to run for Mayor?
I chose to run for Mayor because I believe Brantford is at an pivotal point in our future, and I am ready to provide the strong leadership our city needs.
We have important decisions ahead of us about how we grow, how we respond to the challenges facing our community and what kind of city we want Brantford to be.
I will set that direction by bringing people together, strengthening trust in municipal government and making sure the people of Brantford remain at the centre of the decisions we make.
I bring the right combination of experience and perspective for this moment. Before serving on Council, I spent years leading in our community and working in health care, most recently in public health. That work taught me to understand complex problems, work across organizations and bring people together to find practical solutions.
Serving on Council has given me a strong understanding of how our City operates, how budgets and policy decisions affect people, how different parts of the organization need to work together, and what it takes to move an idea through City Hall and deliver results.
I have also been trusted with responsibilities where the decisions are difficult, the pressures are real and there are rarely simple answers. That experience has prepared me for the responsibility of being Mayor. I understand the organization I would be leading, and I understand the community it serves.
I know City Hall, but I also remember what City Hall looks like from the outside. I know what it is like to be the person in the community with an idea, a concern or a problem, trying to get someone to listen. I don’t want to lose that perspective because I believe it makes me a better leader.
I am excited about the new ideas, perspectives and energy a new Council can bring. I will set a tone where different views are respected, we work together and stay focused on serving our community.
I want to lead a city that respects its history and its neighbourhoods, puts people first and is confident about its future.
A city ready to meet its challenges, make the most of its opportunities and make sure the progress we make is felt across our community. That is the future I believe in for Brantford, and I am ready to lead.
What are the most pressing issues facing the municipality?
The most pressing issues I see are affordability and housing, community safety, access to health care, and managing Brantford’s growth responsibly.
Affordability is putting real pressure on people. We need more housing options people can afford, responsible municipal spending, and City services and programs that remain accessible.
People also need to feel safe in their neighbourhoods, downtown and in public spaces. We need to address crime and disorder while also strengthening our response to homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges. That requires police, social services, health care and community partners working together, with clear roles and better coordination.
Access to health care is a growing concern. Brantford needs to be ready for the future of our hospital, including planning responsibly for the City’s municipal share, while working with health-care partners and other levels of government to improve access to primary care. The City needs to be a strong partner in strengthening health care in our community.
Growth is bringing significant opportunity to Brantford, but it also puts pressure on housing, roads, infrastructure and City services. We need to plan ahead for that growth while respecting established neighbourhoods and making sure the services and infrastructure people rely on are there when they are needed.
If elected, what would your top priorities be and why?
My priorities are built around five areas: People First Leadership, A Safe and Healthy Community, Affordability, Growth With Purpose, and Love Where You Live. Together, they reflect both the challenges we need to address now and the kind of Brantford I want for our future.
People First Leadership means changing how City Hall involves and responds to people. For significant decisions, I will make sure public engagement happens early enough for people to help shape the outcome, followed by clear reporting on what we heard and how that input shaped the final decision. I will ensure we hold regular town halls, establish Mayor’s Neighbourhood Action Tables that bring people, City staff and community partners together to work on neighbourhood priorities, and make it a priority to be available and accessible to people across our community. I will also enhance the follow-up process when someone contacts the City and improve coordination across departments so people aren’t left trying to navigate City Hall on their own.
A Safe and Healthy Community starts with people feeling safe in their neighbourhoods, downtown and in public spaces. Supporting our first responders and creating a regular way for police, fire and paramedics to bring emerging needs and shared challenges directly to the Mayor will help strengthen how we work together.
I will work with our provincial and federal partners to secure the mental health, addiction and supportive services Brantford needs, while continuing to make sure we address crime and disorder. This also means planning responsibly for the municipal share of our future hospital and being a strong partner in improving access to primary care.
Affordability means recognizing that people expect good value for the taxes they pay and that City decisions can either add to or help reduce the pressures households are facing. Responsible spending will be a priority, including reviewing City programs and spending to make sure they are delivering results and value for taxpayers.
That includes making better use of the knowledge and talent of City staff and reducing our reliance on outside consultants where the expertise already exists within the organization.
We also need a wider range of housing options across the housing continuum, including affordable and market rentals, smaller homes and apartments, family-sized housing, transitional and supportive housing, and opportunities for home ownership.
Making use of tools such as Community Improvement Plans and the approvals process to encourage more housing choices where they make sense.
Keeping City programs and services accessible is also part of affordability, including exploring the return of a family transit pass and ways to expand access to recreation subsidies.
Growth With Purpose means planning ahead so housing, roads, traffic, infrastructure and City services are considered together as Brantford grows. We need to address traffic pressures and improve how people move around our city, make sure infrastructure and services are planned alongside new development, and respect the character and history of established neighbourhoods.
It also means supporting the businesses already here, attracting new businesses and investment, and continuing to strengthen Brantford’s reputation as a place where people, businesses and industries want to invest.
Love Where You Live is about taking care of the city we already have and creating more reasons to enjoy it.
That means a renewed focus on the basics, including roads and potholes, parks, gardens, trails, public spaces and state of good repair.
It also means investing in recreation, arts and culture, supporting neighbourhoods, and creating more events and activities for people of different ages and interests.
Brantford will be a city where there are more opportunities to get involved, spend time together and enjoy the community we live in.
These priorities are connected by a simple goal: a city that works for people today while making thoughtful decisions about Brantford’s future.
What issues or concerns have you heard about from residents?
The concerns I hear most often reflect the issues we are discussing across our community: community safety, affordability and housing, our downtown, access to health care, and the mental health and addiction challenges affecting Brantford.
People want to see action on these issues, and they want to know that the City is using the tools it has while being a strong advocate for the provincial and federal support our community needs.
That includes continuing to strengthen safety in our downtown and moving forward with my commitment to a refreshed Downtown Master Plan that brings together safety, housing, businesses, public spaces, cleanliness, transportation and investment under one clear vision for the future of our downtown.
What stands out to me is how personal these concerns are. People talk about whether their children will be able to afford a home here, whether they feel safe walking in their neighbourhood or downtown, whether they can find a family doctor, how long it takes to get across the city, and whether the taxes they pay are translating into the services they expect.
I also hear frustration about how people interact with City Hall. People want to know that when they raise a concern, someone is listening, that they will hear back, and that their input matters before a decision has already been made.
At the same time, I hear a lot of pride in Brantford and optimism about what our city can become. People want us to address the challenges in front of us, but they also want parks and public spaces that are cared for, things to do, strong neighbourhoods and a city they are proud to call home.
How would you improve the relationship between your municipal neighbours?
Strong relationships with our neighbours create opportunities that benefit the entire region. Brantford, County of Brant and Six Nations share connections through our economy, transportation, infrastructure, the environment and the people who move between our communities every day.
I believe those relationships need to be built intentionally through regular communication, respect and spending time together, not only when there is a specific project on the table.
The stronger those relationships are, the easier it becomes to identify shared priorities and opportunities where working together can benefit all of our communities.
I want to strengthen those connections and look for more opportunities to collaborate, including better transportation connections between our communities, economic development opportunities that benefit the region, and shared approaches to infrastructure and environmental stewardship.
Strong communities make strong neighbours, and strong relationships create more opportunities for everyone.
What are your thoughts on the Strong Mayor Powers? Would you use them? If so, why?
I will not use Strong Mayor Powers. I believe the Mayor’s job is to provide strong leadership while bringing Council together, working through different perspectives and building support for the direction we take as a city.
Brantford will have a new Council, with new ideas and perspectives around the table. I see that as an opportunity. I want to set a tone where Council members have the information they need, feel comfortable asking difficult questions and know their voices matter in the decisions we make.
There will be difficult decisions and times when we see things differently. We can have respectful debate, make those decisions and continue working together in the best interests of Brantford. That is an important part of democracy.
Strong leadership is not about having more power. It is about bringing people together to make good decisions for our city.
How would you describe yourself to the constituency?
I would describe myself as someone who cares deeply about people and takes my commitments seriously. I work hard, I follow through and I am a person people know will show up when it matters. I am strong and steady when things are difficult, but I am also kind, approachable and someone who takes the time to listen.
How I treat people matters to me. I value honesty, respect different perspectives and believe people deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. I want people to know that when they come to me with something that matters to them, I will listen, take it seriously and do what I can to help.
I enjoy being out in our community, talking with people, visiting local businesses, attending community events and learning about the work people are doing across Brantford.
Those relationships matter to me, and staying connected to people keeps me grounded in why I chose public service in the first place.
Most of all, I care deeply about Brantford. This is my home. It is where my husband and I raised our two sons, and where I have chosen to serve my community. I believe deeply our city and our future, and I am ready for the responsibility of leading our city with strength, care and integrity
