As we get closer to the 2026 municipal election, there is a lot of discussion about candidates, promises and priorities. But I think it is also important to talk about how municipal government actually works — and what good leadership around a Council table looks like.
BayToday has published a series of columns about municipal government and the upcoming election that I think are particularly relevant to that conversation. They touch on some important realities that can sometimes get lost during an election campaign:
Sometimes voting “No” can be the right answer.
Saying no is not necessarily a failure of leadership. Council has a responsibility to consider the facts, the costs, the long-term implications and the interests of the entire community before making a decision.
Election 2026: Sometimes voting ‘No’ can be the right answer
Beware the candidate with all the answers.
Municipal government is complicated. No one person has all the answers, and good decisions often come from listening, asking questions and working with Council, staff, residents and community partners.
2026 election: Beware the council candidate with all the answers
Don’t hold out for a hero.
A municipality does not need a hero sitting at the head of the table. It needs people who can work together, respect different perspectives and stay focused on the work.
2026 election: Don’t hold out for a hero; hold out for people who work well with others
The mayor is not the boss.
This is an important one. Municipal government is a team effort. The mayor has an important leadership and facilitation role, but Council makes decisions collectively.
2026 election: The mayor is not the boss
Council decisions are more than headlines and soundbites.
The decisions made around a Council table can involve legislation, financial implications, staff recommendations, infrastructure needs, long-term planning and competing community priorities. There is often a lot more to a decision than what makes it into a social media post.
2026 Election: Council decisions are more than headlines, soundbites and social media posts
And municipal budgets are a balancing act.
There are no magic tricks when it comes to municipal finances. Councils have to balance affordability with the responsibility to maintain infrastructure, deliver services and plan for the future.
2026 election: Municipal budgets are a balancing act, not a magic trick
Why I think this matters here
These are not just abstract ideas. They are the realities we face in West Nipissing. We have roads and buildings that need investment. We have aging infrastructure. We have major projects ahead of us. We have limited municipal resources and a responsibility to make the best use of every dollar.
We also have opportunities — including outside funding and partnerships that can help us accomplish things that would simply not be possible through the municipal tax base alone. That means the next four years cannot be about easy answers.
It will require strategic thinking, sound financial decisions, collaboration and the willingness to make difficult choices when necessary. It also requires a Council that understands its role and works together. That is the kind of municipal leadership I believe in. Not political theatre. Not one person having all the answers. Not promises that sound good but have no plan behind them.
Listen. Ask questions. Work together. Make informed decisions. Find opportunities. Plan for the long term. And then get the work done.
I encourage residents to take some time to read these columns. Whether we agree with every point or not, they raise some worthwhile questions about what we should expect from the people we elect to municipal office. And those are conversations worth having before we vote.