The Lake Report confirmed online Friday that Coun. Sandra O’Connor has officially filed to run again, after saying last month she was leaning toward another term at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s council table.
Her name now appears on the town’s registered candidate list for the 2026 municipal election, making her the second incumbent to formally enter the race, after Coun. Gary Burroughs announced his re-election campaign June 1.
O’Connor joins Burroughs, Weston Miller and Steve McGuinness in what is still an early field.
In recent months, O’Connor has spoken up on the use of strong mayor powers and how the town should think about its infrastructure needs.
After Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa used strong mayor powers to bring a previously rejected St. Davids farm storage and market proposal back to council, O’Connor questioned whether the legislation applied in that case.
She said at the time the powers were meant to support housing and housing-related infrastructure.
She has also pushed for natural assets and green infrastructure to be considered as the town works through its asset management planning.
The lord mayor’s race remains between Andrea Kaiser, NOTL’s current regional councillor, and Vaughan Goettler, who placed third for lord mayor in 2022.
Incumbent Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa has not filed nomination papers, according to the town’s online candidate list.
Nominations opened May 1 and close Aug. 21 at 2 p.m.
Voting day is Oct. 26.
