Richardson seeks another term as Greater Napanee election race begins

A nearly six-month race to the finish line is now underway in Greater Napanee, as nominations have officially opened for this fall’s municipal election, to be held on October 26, 2026 — and the first candidates have already entered the race.

Those looking to run for mayor, deputy mayor, councillor, or school board trustee have been able to file nomination papers since Friday, May 1, 2026. An unofficial list of candidates who have filed is now available on the Town’s website and will be updated weekly every Tuesday until the nomination period closes on August 21, 2026. As of Tuesday, May 5, 2026, three candidates had officially filed nomination papers.

Voters in Greater Napanee will elect a mayor and deputy mayor at large, along with one councillor in each of the municipality’s five wards.

Incumbent mayor Terry Richardson has officially filed nomination papers to seek another term, becoming the first — and so far only — candidate in the mayoral race. In the race for deputy mayor, incumbent Brian Calver has also filed to run.

At the ward level, incumbent councillor Bill Martin has entered the race for the Ward 5 seat, while no candidates have yet been listed for Wards 1 through 4.

In an email to Kingstonist, Richardson said he decided to seek re-election because he wants to see projects and initiatives already underway proceed.

“I would like to see some of the things that we have put into place come to fruition,” he wrote. “We have made great strides within both the Corporation and the community, and I would like to see the progress we have made continue to move forward.”

Richardson said that affordability and the maintenance of municipal services in a challenging economic climate will remain key priorities heading into the election.

“Keeping Greater Napanee an affordable place to live, work and retire in is top of mind,” he wrote. “With the difficult economic environment we are experiencing, it's becoming extremely difficult for small municipalities such as Greater Napanee to provide the services our citizens deserve while still keeping costs down.” 

Richardson also suggested he expects a competitive campaign season.

“I think it’s safe to assume there will be a number of competitive races this coming election,” he wrote. “The electorate in Greater Napanee is extremely engaged with local issues, and I don't see that changing this fall.”

Calver told Kingstonist he is seeking re-election because he believes Council still has significant work ahead.

“It’s no secret that I enjoy the work I have been doing alongside the rest of Council,” the deputy mayor wrote. “We have come a very long way since being elected, but there is still work to do.”

Calver said his priorities heading into the election include continuing to work on what he described as several “very big and important upcoming announcements” that he believes will benefit the community.

“There are a lot of good news stories coming,” he wrote. “When looking back at the last 3-1/2 years from where we started to where we are is absolutely amazing.”

Asked about the prospect of a competitive race, Calver acknowledged that election outcomes can be unpredictable: “You never know what to expect or how many people may run against you. Anything is possible."

Calver noted he was unsuccessful the first time he ran for Council in a five-candidate race, but won the deputy mayor position in 2022, gaining more than half of the votes cast.

“I will put my best efforts forward to be successful again this term,” he wrote.

Ward 5 councillor Bill Martin said he is running again because he believes he still has more to contribute at the council table.

“I am running again because I feel I have more to give,” Martin wrote in an email. “I feel like this council has worked well together and we have put the town on a strong financial foundation, and have the best staff in place for years to come and I want to build from there.”

Martin said continuing to assist residents with local concerns remains important to him, along with his work on the municipality’s waste diversion committee.

“I am determined to get rid of the special tax on curbside pickup and get back to encouraging waste diversion,” he wrote.

Martin also said he welcomes competition in the upcoming election, writing, "I hope my ward race is competitive. I encourage everyone to participate in the democratic process."

He said he believes he has approached council decisions thoughtfully and with the broader community in mind.

“I feel I have done my best for all of Greater Napanee, always researched every subject, and based my decisions on common sense and what is in the best interest of the community,” Martin wrote. “But as always, the voters will determine how they feel about it. I will always respect their choice.”

Richardson, who was acclaimed in the 2022 election, is seeking another term, while Calver previously won a three-way race for deputy mayor. At the ward level, Martin secured his seat in a relatively close contest in 2022.

Several other incumbent councillors — including Bob Norrie, Angela Hicks, and Michael Schenk — have not yet filed nomination papers, leaving the shape of multiple ward races unclear.

Meanwhile, Shawn Davey, who was elected earlier this year in a byelection --- winning with 492 votes out of the 986 cast --- also has not yet registered.

In the 2022 municipal election, all five ward races were contested, while the mayor’s race was uncontested and decided by acclamation. All school board trustee positions were also filled by acclamation.

Voter turnout in that election was 37.3 per cent, with 4,742 ballots cast.

School board trustee races will again be on the ballot in 2026, though nominations for some boards are handled by neighbouring municipalities.

For Greater Napanee voters, nominations for English public trustees (Limestone District School Board) are filed locally, while nominations for the English Catholic board (Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board) are filed through Loyalist Township. French public and French Catholic trustee nominations are administered through the City of Kingston.

The process

There is a nearly four-month window for potential candidates to enter or withdraw from the race. The deadline to file — or to step away — is Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at 2 p.m.

Following that, the municipal clerk — who oversees the election — has until 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, to certify nominations. That date will determine the final list of candidates who will appear on the ballot, as well as whether any candidates are acclaimed.

“The clerk must be satisfied that you are eligible to run in order to certify your nomination,” Ontario’s 2026 Candidates’ Guide states. “If your nomination is not certified, your name will not appear on the ballot.”

The Town notes the online candidate list may not immediately reflect new filings, as processing times can vary.

Municipal election day is Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, with voting taking place over an extended period.

The voting window is scheduled to open on Friday, October 16 and remain open until the close of polls at 8 p.m. on election day, with ballots cast by telephone or internet. In-person support options will also be available at select locations during the voting period for those who require assistance.

Residents can vote from anywhere using a phone or internet connection, with voter information letters containing secure personal identification numbers (PINs) expected to be mailed out ahead of the election.

To be eligible to vote, individuals must be Canadian citizens, be at least 18 years old, and either reside in Greater Napanee or own or rent property in the municipality, among other criteria set out in provincial legislation.

Eligible voters are encouraged to confirm or update their information on the voters’ list with Elections Ontario before the election. Voter registration updates can be made online until August 12, after which changes must be submitted through the Town.