Mark Hunter brings business experience to Stratford mayoral race
Mark Hunter is no stranger to the Stratford city council chambers. He has served on council as chair of the finance and labour relations committee and is now running for mayor of Stratford.
Hunter has over 30 years of business management experience and is also a lawyer. He believes he can use that experience to provide strong, focused leadership at city council.
“Good leadership means setting priorities, making informed decisions and following through to ensure important projects get completed,” said Hunter.
He says that his desire to serve as mayor comes from a simple goal: to make Stratford an even better place for everyone to live.
“I want to help protect what makes our community special while making thoughtful improvements that will benefit families, businesses and organizations across our city,” said Hunter. “I love the many things that make Stratford such a special place to live. We have a strong industrial base, a world-class theatre, a vibrant downtown, a beloved hockey team, beautiful parks and so much more.”
According to Hunter, what truly makes Stratford special is its people. He acknowledged that Stratford is known as a friendly, welcoming and supportive community, and he is proud to call it home for himself and his growing family.
“My family’s steel sales company has been proud to call Stratford home since 1977, and the support of local businesses has helped us thrive,” said Hunter. “My wife, Denise, and I love living here, and we are proud that our adult children plan to make Stratford their permanent home as well.”
He said his love of Stratford and his knowledge of business and leadership will help him understand the community's needs, and that doing so means listening, working with others, and keeping the community’s best interests at the centre of every decision.
Hunter says his priorities are keeping taxes in line, attracting small businesses to Stratford and improving roads and infrastructure.
He says that as someone who pays both residential and business taxes, he understands how important that balance is for the city and its residents.
“I will prioritize spending so that we focus our resources where they are needed most while maintaining a close eye on the budget,” he said. “I will also work to attract new businesses and investment to Stratford, helping diversify our tax base and reduce pressure on residential taxpayers.”
Hunter also plans to address housing and rising costs without increasing taxes for taxpayers. He plans to work with outside non-profit organizations to expand the supply of affordable housing while minimizing reliance on property tax dollars.
An ongoing question for Stratford residents is what will happen with the Grand Trunk site, and Hunter says he will continue to work on the project and secure funding for the massive project.
“The new library and YMCA approved by council in April are an excellent start, but they are just the beginning,” he said. “We need to continue working diligently to secure outside funding and move forward with the next phases of this exciting opportunity for Stratford.”
Lastly, Hunter plans to improve communication between city hall and Stratford citizens.
“Today, information is available, but too often residents have to search for it,” he said. “I will work to create a consistent and reliable system for regularly bringing important city information directly to our community. Better communication will strengthen transparency, accountability and public participation and make city hall more accessible to everyone.”
During the campaign, Hunter can be reached by email at Hunter4Mayor2026@gmail.com ormark@huntersteel.ca. You can also reach him by phone at 519-273-3151.
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