Six questions with Blair Campbell, candidate for Greater Napanee deputy mayor

Blair Campbell is seeking election to Greater Napanee Council for the first time, running for deputy mayor.

Originally from Inverary, north of Kingston, Campbell moved to Greater Napanee with his fiancée in February 2021 after the couple purchased a property many residents know as the Andrews Farm. They had been searching for a farm close to Kingston, where they both work, and settled in Greater Napanee after finding what Campbell described as the ideal location to make their plans a reality.

After earning a degree in criminology from the University of Ottawa, Campbell has spent 26 years in the federal public service. He currently works as a parole officer with the Correctional Service of Canada at a community correctional centre in Kingston. Over his career, he has worked in frontline and management roles at Joyceville, Millhaven, Bath and Collins Bay institutions, the former Kingston Penitentiary, and the Kingston Parole Office.

Campbell operates a farm with a purebred Charolais cattle herd and has developed connections within the local and Canadian agricultural communities. He also serves as one of Greater Napanee's livestock evaluators.

Campbell enjoys spending time with his fiancée and stepdaughter, whose agricultural interests include miniature ponies and horses. The household also includes dogs Rocky and Adrian and a cat named Apollo — all named for characters from the Rocky movies.

Campbell also has a special attachment to Crocs. While he considers them comfortable, practical and among the most versatile footwear available, he acknowledges with a laugh that his fiancée may have a point when she blames them for more than one trip to the emergency department.

His social media platform is Blair Campbell for Deputy Mayor - Town of Greater Napanee 2026 on Facebook. He can be reached at Blair.Campbell1978@gmail.com.

How would you describe your personal political ideology or philosophy? Do you have a political affiliation, and if so, what is it?

I do not subscribe to any specific political ideology or philosophy. I tend to operate according to my own strong moral compass and believe every decision should be based on careful consideration of the facts, consultation with those affected, and a clear understanding of the potential outcomes and consequences.

As deputy mayor, my primary responsibility would be to make decisions in the best interests of the electorate and advocate at the county level on behalf of the town. I would approach each issue with an open mind, listen to the people I represent and other stakeholders, consider the information available, and make the decision I believe best serves our community.

My commitment would be to the people of Greater Napanee and not to a specific political ideology.

Why did you decide to run in the 2026 Greater Napanee municipal election?

I decided to run for deputy mayor after a steady stream of people visited me and encouraged me to consider running. They told me change was needed and that I could be the mechanism for that change.

Their encouragement was humbling. They told me they believed the town needs someone willing to listen, someone new to local municipal politics who can view the issues facing our community through a different lens, consider the information available and vote objectively, with the best interests of the electorate in mind.

What are the three issues or concerns you are hearing about most often from Greater Napanee residents?

If the town only had three issues or concerns, any deputy mayor's role would be easy. Common concerns I am hearing include:

1. Speculation surrounding the development of a data centre on Goodyear Road.
2. Rising costs of services and the long-term sustainability of those services and capital investments.
3. Encampment-related issues, including homelessness and substance use.

In your view, what are the three most pressing issues Greater Napanee Council will need to address during the next term?

The three most pressing issues I see, in no particular order, are homelessness and encampments, including related issues such as substance use and the lack of shelter; making council more efficient in setting the direction of town business; and attracting new professionals, businesses and industry.

The cost of services and capital purchases is not getting cheaper, and we must find new and innovative ways to grow the tax base with projects that are acceptable to residents and demonstrate that Greater Napanee is a community open for business.

We need to take advantage of Napanee's strategic location between Kingston and Belleville and Toronto and Montreal, its access to Highway 401 and water, and its vibrant and revitalized downtown core. We must also maximize provincial and federal funding opportunities for capital projects and further investment in the town.

What is the most pressing issue facing the ward you are seeking to represent, and what would you like the municipality to do about it?

The most pressing issue I see as a candidate for deputy mayor is that council needs to get back on track in terms of setting the mandate for town business and letting town administrators implement that mandate.

I'm a strong advocate that more bylaws and direction also drive people and businesses away. The next council needs to work collaboratively for the people who elected them and move away from stacking rule book upon rule book as a way of conducting town business.

We need to simplify town processes and streamline external consulting. Council also needs to work collaboratively with the electorate in planning, approving and implementing capital projects and future developments. Residents should not be left wondering what is ahead.

What do you believe sets you apart from the other candidates seeking this position, and why should residents vote for you?

I believe my 26-year career in the federal public service shows my longstanding commitment to the public. For me, a life of public service is about serving others rather than forwarding your own agenda or the agenda of someone else or an advocacy group. There is no more honourable position in a lifetime of public service than the opportunity to represent the people of your community.

My educational background and professional experience in some of the toughest working conditions the Canadian correctional system has to offer have prepared me for the challenges ahead. My ability to listen, ask questions and find common ground will help make the next council efficient and productive.

My connections to the community through agriculture, business, and as a citizen also position me well for the next four years.

I came to this community because my fiancée and I believed it was the kind of place where we wanted to build our future. I believe in giving back to the community that has welcomed us.

That is why I have placed my name on the ballot for deputy mayor. I believe my skill set would better serve the electorate as a whole, not just the ward where I reside.