Doug Brunton is running for Norfolk mayor

Doug Brunton

Leah Bauer

Advocate Contributor

When Norfolk County heads to the polls this fall, there will be a few recognizable names on the municipal election ballot, one of those names being Doug Brunton, who is running for mayor.

Brunton has served as councillor on Norfolk Council representing Ward 5 since 2014. 

His decision to run for mayor in 2026 was driven in part by his view that “if you are the mayor, you can get more done.

Brunton believes his extensive experience as both councillor and Public Works Director in Norfolk gives him a good perspective on the issues Norfolk is facing. 

“I think there’s a big issue with taxes and water bills. I have some ideas of how to address that. I have worked for the Town of Simcoe as a public works director for my whole career. Because I have worked in it for so long, I know where to look to reduce things.”

Brunton’s experience in municipal issues includes engineering, waste management, drainage, parks, cemeteries, planning and land development, property acquisition, disposal, financing and budgets.

His experience comes from both sides of the table.

“I have eight years of experience dealing with council as a councillor, and I've had my whole career dealing with council prior to that. I've worked with probably five or six different mayors, and I've dealt with infrastructure. So I've seen both sides.”

Brunton is also convinced of the importance of both agriculture and tourism in Norfolk County. Brunton reviewed his experience in both of these fields, reflecting that “there are two things that are important to Norfolk, agriculture and tourism. I have worked in both. I worked in the U.S. in agriculture when I retired, and I have plenty of ideas in agriculture that I could put forward.”

As one of Norfolk’s municipal representatives on the Long Point Region Conservation Authority Board of Directors (chairperson in 2026), he attributes his knowledge of tourism and the parks to that experience.

Brunton appreciates the time he has spent serving Norfolk as a councillor and his willingness to take the risk of losing his seat is influenced by his will to want to get things done as mayor.

“You only get one vote as a councillor, and only one vote as mayor. But the mayor has a significant lead when getting involved in things, and has more sway in how things are done.” 

Brunton attaches weight to the fact that he has a considerable experience in Norfolk municipal politics.

“I think I have a little more insight as to what we're going to be dealing with. If I was not on council and I was starting out, I would tell somebody, you’ve got to walk before you run. So learn to be a councillor first before you decide to run for mayor.”