So You Want to Run for Local Government?

The race is on. If you’re interested in running for council, regional council, school trustee, mayor or deputy mayor in the forthcoming municipal election in your town, township or region, it’s time to declare your intention. Nominations, which opened May 1, run until August 21. 

Why run for municipal government? Of all three political levels – municipal, provincial and federal – it arguably has the most direct impact on daily lives. Municipalities, counties and regions oversee roads and bridges, emergency and waste management services, parks and recreation, libraries, property taxes and building permits. These responsibilities and powers are governed by the province, primarily through the Municipal Act, 2001, to ensure that services are delivered safely, equitably and in accordance with community needs. 

“Putting yourself forward to represent your neighbours on town council is one of the most significant ways that you can serve your community,” says Jennifer Payne, the executive director of Headwaters Communities in Action. HCIA is a local non-profit community organization that works with local governments and residents to promote civic engagement through projects including Volunteer Dufferin and community grants.

Payne adds: “Communities thrive when people engage where they live. When you volunteer, help a neighbour, join a club, buy local, support charities and participate in elections, you strengthen your community.”

If you’re curious what it takes, here’s a start. 

Are you eligible?

First, you’ll need to meet the eligibility requirements. To hold office as a councillor or mayor, you must be at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen. You must be a resident, a non-resident owner or a tenant of land in the municipality, or the spouse of a non-resident owner or tenant who is eligible to vote. (For more information, see sidebar page 34.)

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can start the process of filing your registration. You’ll need to be endorsed by 25 eligible electors in the municipality and pay a nomination fee – commonly $100 for councillor and school trustees and $200 for mayor. Registrations must be certified by the municipal clerk before campaigning can begin.

Where you can run and what for

The In The Hills coverage area includes the towns of Caledon, Erin, Grand Valley, Mono, Orangeville and Shelburne, and the townships of Amaranth, East Garafraxa, Melancthon and Mulmur. These municipalities belong to three different upper-tier governments: Peel Region, Wellington County and Dufferin County. How representatives reach those upper-tier councils varies from place to place.

In Caledon, in addition to voting for mayor and one of six local ward councillors, citizens vote for one of two regional ward councillors who will represent them at Peel Region. 

Dufferin County’s council is made up of all mayors and deputy mayors elected in the eight town and townships within it – and that group votes on the council leader, called a warden. Erin’s mayor is the town’s only representative at Wellington County council. 

In addition to positions on councils, residents can also run for school board trustee positions during municipal elections. Trustees are members of the school board, and act as a key link between local communities and the school board. Trustees are elected every four years during municipal elections. They bring issues and concerns of their communities to discussions and decision-making tables, and thus have an important role working in partnership with school councils and families, communicating decisions and advocating for public education within the community. 

Brush up on municipal government

While you’re campaigning, consider educating yourself about how things will work once you’re elected to office. This can help you refine your talking points and avoid pitfalls such as overpromising. 

“A strong local government depends on a clear distinction between governance and administration,” according to the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators’ publication Your Local Government: A Resident’s Guide to Services, Roles & Good Governance. Members of the council are elected to represent the public interest, and the council as a body provides governance leadership by setting policies and passing budgets and bylaws. The council – not individual councillors – makes decisions and sets policies. Individuals can’t single-handedly make changes – such as directing staff on which roads or bridges to fix or deciding what areas of town should be plowed first. 

The day-to-day work of municipal governments is carried out by municipal employees – who do not report to council. Only the chief administrative officer or the clerk, in some smaller governments, reports to council. 

One exception to a single elected official being able to directly enact changes? The mayor, if they have been granted and decide to use the “strong mayor powers” set out by the Ford government’s Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022.

Strong mayor powers grant a mayor additional authority to direct certain staff functions, budget preparation, and organizational structure. Caledon Mayor Annette Groves was granted these powers and has used them on numerous occasions. Many mayors, including Orangeville’s Lisa Post, have limited or rejected the use of these powers. 

No one is saying it’s easy 

There are several potential barriers to running for an elected role in municipal government that can hold potential candidates back. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s report, Mapping the Experiences of Diverse Candidates Running for Municipal Office in Ontario, found that these barriers include having limited networks and social connections, financial and time constraints. Balancing job and family obligations with your political aspirations can be tricky. 

In small rural communities, salary can also be a barrier: It’s low pay for high commitment. Remuneration, which is determined by each council, tends to be low – the equivalent of part-time pay for often more than full-time work. For example, the annual salary for an Orangeville councillor for the 2026–2030 term is approximately $43,000 – an increase from an average of approximately $32,000 over the previous 15 years. In 2024, councillors and the mayor in Amaranth received approximately $14,000 and $25,000 annually, including per diem compensation, mileage and conference expenses.

Mental health is also a consideration. Candidates (and elected representatives) often face discrimination, bullying and harassment. 

Thankfully, there are several organizations and resources aimed at easing these barriers and pointing out the personal and societal benefits to overcoming them. 

Resources to help break down barriers

Many of these barriers are compounded for people from under-represented groups, so many helpful resources are focused on improving transparency about government roles and expectations, diversity and inclusion.

“Representation isn’t about holding a seat. It’s about keeping the door open,” says Andrea Clarke, a part-time deputy judge and former deputy mayor of Kincardine who works with a group called ElectHER Now. “When women choose to step forward, we turn policies into people, silence into understanding and closed rooms into spaces where every voice, every family and every reality finally belongs.”

ElectHER Now is composed of current and former elected officials and volunteers in Grey Bruce working to increase the number of women elected to office in their area. Although their focus is Grey Bruce, ElectHER Now provides resources for all women who want to run for council. “Local government shapes the communities where we live, work and raise our families, yet women remain under-represented around municipal council tables,” says cofounder Laura Wood. “Our online Campaign School and election resources help make the idea of running for office more approachable by sharing real experiences from women who have served and creating a supportive space for learning, questions and connection.”

PoliticsNOW is a grassroots political catalyst group aiming to engage new candidates and amplify women’s voices in government. The organization’s website offers free downloadable resources, including campaign email and social media templates, event planning and fundraising guides, and webinars, such as Campaign Fundamentals for Women Candidates.

Operation Black Vote Canada works to increase “the representation of Black Canadians in politics, civil services, agencies, boards and commissions at all levels,” according to their website. The non-profit organization offers campaign tools and resources to help Black candidates run for office, including a daylong Municipal Bootcamp focused on campaign readiness and an annual Black Women’s Summit.

Elect Respect – A Pledge to Restore Civility in the Public Square is a campaign committed to upholding “core values of democratic service, including the right to work free from threats, abuse or intimidation,” according to their website. Leaders and citizens are encouraged to take the pledge to reject harassment and abuse, advocate for democracy and focus on ideas and policies. 

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s Leading with Respect handguides – with chapters on topics such as Chairing Meetings Effectively, Responding to Constituents and Fostering Civility at the Council Table – were also created for those who have been elected. But like Elect Respect, they are also excellent resources for hopeful candidates to explore.

Campaign basics: Where to start

Most municipalities will post online updates and host candidate information sessions, so visit municipal websites regularly. The sessions are typically run by the clerk and their team, who administer all official council records and processes, and oversee municipal elections, voting and voter information. Have a question? Call the clerk’s office – they’re the experts. 

Once you have decided to run for a local council, regional council or mayoral position and your registration has been certified by the municipal clerk, you can officially begin campaigning. The clerk will advise you of spending limits, signage bylaws and financial obligations, such as tracking of all financial transactions. It’s worth noting that after the election, you will be expected to file a campaign financial statement, even if you are not successful. (Campaigns in Ontario must follow strict financial rules under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.)

You can now launch a digital presence to inform voters about your values, intended priorities and approach. Your campaign team – those helping with communications, fundraising, social media management, volunteering and more – will be essential to co-ordination, organization and tracking contributions and spending.

A healthy election

In some municipalities, no new candidates will decide to run for office. Eleven of 44 municipal seats in Dufferin were acclaimed in the 2022 election, according to HCIA. 

And eligible voters are staying home. Only about 25–36 per cent of voters in Dufferin municipalities voted that year. In Ontario, just under a third of eligible voters (32.9 per cent) participated – a record low.

To address these issues, HCIA has formed a municipal election task force with two goals: increased voter turnout and zero acclamations. The team has been administering surveys, reaching out to former candidates to consider running again and hosting community conversations.

Ultimately, Payne hopes to see more residents throw their hat in the ring for the ripple effects that can have: “Run for council! Win or lose, your neighbours deserve more choices and voices. If running is not for you, encourage others to run, and talk to people about voting in October.”

In late summer In The Hills will publish a guide on how to vote in the October 26 election.  

This story was updated on June 9, 2026.