Five candidates enter Port Hope mayoral race, 11 seeking council seats

There will be a five-way race for mayor in the Municipality of Port Hope in the 2026 municipal election. /Sarah Hyatt photo

By West Northumberland Independent staff

The mayoral race in Port Hope for the municipal election will include five candidates vying for the head seat of council for the next term.

The Municipality of Port Hope has announced the candidates who have been certified to appear or who have been acclaimed on the ballot for the 2026 municipal and school board election, which is Monday, Oct. 26.

Incumbent Mayor Olena Hankivsky is looking to retain her seat for a second consecutive term and will face four others looking to serve at the helm, including current Coun. Todd Attridge, as well as Angela Grogan, David Stambrook, and Ian West.

Under Ward 1 councillors, Les Andrews, Claire Holloway Wadhwani and Adam Pearson are seeking re-election, while Vicki Mink is, too, but is shifting from her current Ward 2 seat. Amelia Bray, Caleb Carisse, Miranda Lukaniuk and Norm Orviss have also thrown their hats into the ring.

Only four candidates will be elected in Ward 1.  

In Ward 2, where there are two seats up for grabs, Glenn Deeth and Jamie Ferguson have put their names forward, while Darrell Toms is also hoping to be re-elected.

No deputy mayor is elected in Port Hope – instead, the municipality has historically had an established rotational system for the position.

For the school board election, there are two elected positions for the role of English public-school board trustee. Terry Brown, Jaine Klassen Jeninga, Elizabeth Terrell, and Lindsay White are running for seats on the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board’s board of trustees.

For the single position of English separate (Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board) board of trustee, Matthew Hilts has been acclaimed.

For the single elected position of school board trustee for the French public board (Conseil Scolaire Viamonde), Erik Lapointe has been acclaimed.

For the single elected position of school board trustee for the French separate board (Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir), Marcellin Kwilu Mondo has been acclaimed.