Andrea Kaiser’s no stranger to the world of local politics. For 11 years, she was a Niagara-on-the-Lake councillor and has represented the municipality at regional council since 2022.
Voters such as Chautauqua resident Mary Kilmer-Tchalekian say that experience is why they believe she’s the person for the job of leading NOTL for the next four years.
“She’s a strong woman and she’s had really great experience. I think she would do a fabulous job as mayor,” Kilmer-Tchalekian said.
On Sunday, Kaiser hosted a community barbecue at the St. Davids Lions Club, where residents and supporters gathered to enjoy a hot dog (or veggie dog) and talk politics.
Margret Walker has canvassed for Kaiser in Chautauqua and said she appreciates the regional councillor’s honesty.
“I think she speaks the truth,” she said. “She doesn’t tell stories, she researches what she says.”
Kaiser told The Lake Report that a commitment to residents’ quality of life is a key part of her campaign to become lord mayor.
“I think that is one of my strengths, being respectful to residents and trying to find some collaboration,” she said.
“One of the things we have in common is that we all love NOTL.”
Amy Casey, a Kaiser supporter, said that after moving to NOTL from Toronto, she realized how much of an impact municipal governance can have in a smaller community.
“In Toronto you cast your vote and you’re one of the millions,” she said.
“If you keep up with provincial politics, you can see how they are changing the responsibilities of mayor, regional councils, how the decisions in funding, short-term and long-term are made.”
After the first mayoral debate, Casey said it was clear that Kaiser had educated attendees about how local governance works and has evolved.
“If I had just seen her at the debate and not known her from prior years, I would have still walked away thinking she’s the most qualified for the job.”
Kaiser said she believes it is very important for NOTL to have someone with regional council experience as its lord mayor.
In May, independently elected regional councillor positions in Niagara were eliminated.
“I am very concerned about amalgamation still being on the table in some respects,” she said.
“I was also doing some significant work that I’d like to finish in regard to the policing work that I’d done over the last four years.”
Kaiser has long criticized the high cost of police services in NOTL, which she cites as a longstanding concern of residents.
