Citing a plan for continued growth, Darrin Canniff has announced his intention to seek a third term as Chatham-Kent’s mayor.
Canniff, who officially filed his nomination papers on Wednesday, said he plans to continue building on the momentum and growth the community has experienced over the past eight years. Since becoming mayor, Canniff noted that Chatham-Kent has seen a population increase of 8.1 per cent, which is the municipality’s strongest period of growth in more than two decades.
“We’ve focused on growth, positivity, investment, and creating opportunities for people and families to build their future right here in our community,” he said in a news release. “Every community deserves investment and attention. We’ve made significant progress improving infrastructure across rural
Chatham-Kent, supporting our downtowns, and helping local businesses succeed, but there is still more work to do.”
The incumbent mayor added that during his time as mayor, he has applied his skillset as a chartered accountant to ensure that Chatham-Kent is in a strong financial position, helping to reduce municipal debt levels by roughly $100 million.
Canniff also said the challenges facing communities today require strong advocacy and strong relationships.
“Over the years, I’ve built connections at Queen’s Park that help ensure Chatham-Kent has a voice at the table,” he said. “Whether it’s fighting for infrastructure funding, addressing homelessness and addictions, or supporting economic growth, I will continue working tirelessly to advocate for our residents and our businesses.”
Canniff was first elected to Chatham-Kent Council in 2014, representing Ward 6 for four years, prior to being elected as mayor in 2018.
A total of four candidates have now filed their nomination papers to run for the mayor’s seat, including current councillors Michael Bondy and Lauren Anderson. You can find a full list of nominees on the 2026 Municipal Election Information page on our website.
Local residents will head to the polls on October 26.
