Ward 5 heats up in Fort Erie’s 2026 municipal election
June 10, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Three candidates have filed for the single Ward 5 council seat, making it the first contested in Fort Erie’s municipal election as every other ward sits with one candidate or none.
Fort Erie voters will choose a mayor, six ward councillors and four school board trustees on October 26, but with three months left to enter no one has filed for mayor and no candidate has been nominated for Ward 3 yet.
Credit: Town of Fort Erie | FacebookWard 5 Councillor Tom Lewis faces two rivals vying for his seat. Thomas Mete filed May 1, the same day as Lewis. Scott Boumeester is the latest candidate in the race, having registered May 22.
George McDermott in Ward 1, Nick Dubanow in Ward 2, Joan Christensen in Ward 4 and Ann-Marie Noyes in Ward 6 have each filed to keep their seats and so far stand unchallenged. A candidate who remains unopposed when nominations close wins by acclamation.
Ward 3 currently has no registered candidate, leaving councillor Darren Flagg’s seat open as of publishing.
No one has yet filed to run for mayor, including Wayne Redekop, who has held the office since 2014 and previously served from 1997 to 2006. Redekop won the 2022 race with 6,195 votes, about 67 per cent.
The school board race currently has three registered candidates.
Susan Jovanović filed May 8 for the English-language public board seat representing Fort Erie and Port Colborne. Danny DiLorenzo filed May 7 for the English-language Catholic board seat. Amanda Leduc filed May 20 for the French-language public board, Conseil Scolaire Viamonde.
Candidates may raise and spend campaign money only after the clerk accepts their papers. A mayoral registration package costs a $200 filing fee. Council and trustee packages cost $100. Each candidate must also submit 25 endorsement signatures from eligible voters.
The town clerk will certify or reject nominations by August 24. Internet voting opens October 5. Advance polls will open October 14 and 17 before the October 26 election.
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Andrew Hawlitzky
Andrew is a Niagara community journalist who has covered everything from local politics to annual festivals and breaking news. He works to make local news a platform where community voices lead the conversation. "If you don't like the news, go out and make some!"
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