Who’s running for mayor and council in Perth’s 2026 municipal election? Here’s what you need to know
Municipal elections will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026 in communities across Ontario, including Perth.
At the Friday, Aug. 21, 2 p.m. nomination deadline, a total of 18 candidates had put their names forward for mayor, deputy mayor and council.
Four candidates are competing for mayor: David Bird, Stephanie Drummond, Isabel Anne McRae and Ed McPherson. Jamie Dyer, Richard Schooley and Catherine Schoular are seeking the deputy mayor’s position.
Another 11 candidates are competing for five councillor positions. Perth elects its councillors at large, meaning voters across the town choose from the same list of council candidates.
Lanarkist has published a profile of Drummond, which is linked below. We will profile the additional mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates as they respond to our interview requests.
Each councillor candidate will be posed the same five questions, and their answers will be linked here as we receive them.
Additional candidate profiles and campaign information will be added as they become available.
Perth mayoral candidates
David Bird – Facebook
Stephanie Drummond – Facebook; Lanarkist profile: Mayoral candidate Stephanie Drummond says Perth needs ‘fresh leadership’ that gets back to basics
Isabel Anne McRae – Facebook; Lanarkist profile: Perth mayoral candidate Isabel Anne McRae seeks to achieve economic prosperity with purpose
Ed McPherson – Facebook; Lanarkist profile: Ed McPherson says Perth needs experienced leadership focused on affordability and responsible growth
Perth deputy mayor candidates
Jamie Dyer – Lanarkist profile: Five questions with Jamie Dyer, deputy mayoral candidate for Perth in the 2026 municipal election
Richard Schooley – A profile and campaign information pages will be updated as they are made available
Catherine Schoular – A profile and campaign information pages will be updated as they are made available
Perth council candidates
Judy Brown – Lanarkist profile: Five questions with Judy Brown, candidate for Perth council in the 2026 municipal election; Facebook
Jim Boldt – Information pages will be updated as they are made available.
Marlene Donoghue – Information pages will be updated as they are made available.
Gary Waterfield – Information pages will be updated as they are made available.
Paul Quinnell – Lanarkist profile: Five questions with Paul Quinnell, candidate for Perth council in the 2026 municipal election
Sheldon Giff – Information pages will be updated as they are made available.
Derek Zeisman – Lanarkist profile: Five questions with Derek Zeisman, candidate for Perth council in the 2026 municipal election
Peter Gardner Hallam – Lanarkist profile: Five questions with Peter Hallam, candidate for Perth council in the 2026 municipal election
Ramsey Hart – Lanarkist profile: Five questions with Ramsey Hart, candidate for Perth council in the 2026
Trevor Oattes – Lanarkist profile: Five questions with Trevor Oattes, candidate for Perth council in the 2026 municipal election; Information pages will be updated as they are made available.
Kassina Ryder – Information pages will be updated as they are made available.