A long-time Chatham-Kent councillor is setting his sights on the mayor’s seat.
Councillor Michael Bondy has announced his plan for a mayoral run in the next municipal election slated for October 26, 2026.
Bondy said he’d would take a “different approach” to the Mayor’s Office. He said he believes council should have greater control over staff and administration.
“I would like administration to yield some of their power and decision making to council,” said Bondy. “I would put my trust more into council than administration… I think sometimes administration makes decisions that probably don’t reflect the will of council.”
To achieve this change, Bondy said he would utilize the Strong Mayor Powers granted by the provincial government.
“I think that some of the mayoral powers should be used, as in the selection and dismissal of the CAO and of senior management,” said Bondy. “I think staffing and the salaries, benefits and pensions associated with staffing are really out of control.”
Bondy cited an unsuccessful motion to give council greater control over non-union municipal positions with a salary over $100,000. The motion, which was tabled in December, was decisively shot down by council in a vote of 3-13.
“I think staffing and the salaries, benefits and pensions associated with staffing are really out of control,” said Bondy.
“They can be reined in through the office of the mayor.”
First elected in 2010, the four-term councillor said as mayor he would also explore options for the de-amalgamation of Chatham-Kent.
“I’m not saying I support de-amalgamation, I support a change,” he said. “There’s a lot ways that could be looked at. We could become a two-tier municipality or we could simply de-amalgamate.”
Bondy noted that multiple petitions in favour of de-amalgamation have been circulating in the municipality’s smaller communities.
“That is something we’ll need an elected, municipal Chatham-Kent official to address,” he said. “If the municipality, through the mayor, approached the province and asked for a review, I think we would be listened to, rather than a grassroots petition.”
Bondy noted that any decision regarding de-amalgamation would ultimately have to be made by the provincial government.
“My vision for the future of Chatham-Kent would be more unity in the former county of Kent. I feel there is a lot of division between the rural and urban concerns and issues and I think it’s a stumbling block. It’s a problem,” said Bondy.
CKXS News reached out to Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff on Wednesday who stated he has not yet announced whether or not he intends to seek reelection in 2026.
