The Lake Report asked outgoing Coun. Wendy Cheropita for her opinion on the election outcome and how council must now move forward. Here’s what she had to say.

Coun. Wendy Cheropita
Special to The Lake Report

After eight years and two council terms as a Niagara-on-the-Lake town councillor, I decided not to run in the 2026 election. So, when election day arrived, I woke up with mixed feelings.

No longer would I participate in the election day excitement and the nail-biting apprehension that I felt on election days in 2018 and 2022.

Close friends visited me to get together for a glass of wine while we listened to the CKTB pre-election discussions and predictions. The excitement started to grow, as we discussed our thoughts on what might happen. Shortly after, we headed to the community centre to watch the results come in.

We waited and waited in the lobby, people gathered and finally the auditorium doors opened and the screen was visible. There was a lot less people than in previous years. Sandra O’Connor, Gary Burroughs, Tim Balasiuk and Rick Mills and their supporters were present.

When the final results were in, it was clear that the residents overwhelmingly wanted change. Fifty-two per cent voter participation, the highest in the region and possibly in Ontario.

What surprised me the most was the big gap in the number of votes between those that won and those that did not. The lawn signs might not have indicated the actual results.

My first thought was for my council colleagues that suffered a devastating loss, a few of them that I have worked with for eight years. My heart went out to them.

It takes a lot of courage to run. It takes a lot of energy and a team behind you to run and its very hard work. I admire anyone that runs in a municipal.  

For a while, I stood with Gary Burroughs and his lovely family as we watch Gary gain the highest number of votes to become deputy lord mayor. I was so happy for Gary. He was one of the people that called me out of the blue in 2018 and said I am supporting you and Clare Cameron. That was when our relationship started.

I learned a lot from Gary in those early days. I had a chance to give Tim Balasiuk a big bear hug, congratulate Sandra O’Connor and chat with Rick Mills — such a nice man. He did well for his first time.

My sincere congratulations go out to Vaughn Goettler, Andrew Niven, Weston Miller, Steve McGuiness. 

I was pleased to read some consistent priorities expressed by many of the elected officials.

I hope you will make infrastructure investment and management a top priority. It’s not sexy, but it is critical and financial gaps exist.

Flooding is an issue — culverts need regular cleaning, many need to be replaced, phragmites requires investment to get it under control or water can’t flow through ditches.

The hospital property, in my opinion, should remain institutional zoning and become an arts, culture and education hub. Please protect this valuable property.

Our taxes are high — not the mill rate, but the amount of property tax we pay in NOTL, with the combined region and municipality. Take a fresh look to see where efficiencies can be found.

In this term of council, we did accomplish a lot. One project we did not get to was to create a town-wide plan for what needs to be developed and where. This will help developers, staff and council work with together and not at odds. 

All my very best to the newly elected council and lord mayor.