By Mike Renzella and Nick Fearns
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—Haldimand residents have spoken and change is in the air, with six of eight faces new to the next Council table.
“When you put your name out there and run, especially when you get down to crunch time … you run through a whole series of emotions,” said Jake Vandendool following his October 26, 2026 win of the mayoral seat.
The greatest feeling now? Relief.
“Now we know the direction,” he said.
Vandendool considers himself lucky for the support shown through votes cast his way: “When you see that your message that you’ve been trying to share and your vision resonated with people, that’s a big deal.”
Throughout his campaign, Vandendool repeatedly touched on the need for stronger leadership.
“That means leading the council, leading the staff, setting expectations throughout the organization,” he said. “It’s not my responsibility exclusively to unilaterally decide where this county is going. That’s what Council does.”
His first priority as mayor is simple: to get to know his peers around the Council table.
He is also looking forward to playing a direct role in Haldimand’s economic development. “That’s key to controlling our taxes. That’s key to a healthy municipality overall. That’s key to making everything affordable when affordability is at the top of everybody’s mind,” he said.
He pledged support for community-driven fundraising initiatives aimed at improving amenities in Haldimand.
“Those are going to be big endeavours,” he said, noting several projects underway or at the idea stage. “That dovetails with the financial position as well, because you can’t start doing things like that unless we have the firm financial position.”
He thanked his supporters and campaign team: “Some of these people barely knew me before this election, but they believed in the message and they believed in seeing change for Haldimand County. So that’s amazing to have those people behind you,” he said. “It’s an honour to be elected the mayor of the community that I’ve lived in my entire life.”
Vandendool also thanked every candidate who stepped forward to run in this election.
“There’s a unique camaraderie shared amongst everybody that’s run. Although we are competing for a limited number of positions that are available, we still did it in a very respectful manner,” he said. “That’s something to be proud of.”
Vandendool said he is looking forward to speaking with current Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley to ensure a smooth transition, with the new term beginning November 15.
On her Facebook page, Bentley shared her reaction to the results and congratulated Vandendool.
“Over the past four years, it has been an incredible honour and privilege to serve as your mayor,” wrote Bentley. “From conversations at community events to difficult decisions around the Council table, I have always been reminded of what makes Haldimand County such a special place to call home – its people.”
Over in Ward 1, Brian Doyle is feeling both humbled and excited to step into his new councillor shoes.
“It was a hard-fought win with a lot of family and friends helping out, and we’re ready to hit the ground running and get some work done,” said Doyle, noting plans to further engage Ward 1 communities on their needs.
Doyle said his goal was to meet as many constituents as possible while campaigning, with the biggest concern heard being a lack of cohesiveness in Council.
“We need a little more camaraderie around the table, and that doesn’t mean we can’t still disagree at times, but once a decision’s made, you live with it and you move on,” he said.
He thanked his predecessor, Debera McKeen, noting she served her community well.
In Ward 2, Bruce Mehlenbacher will replace two-term Councillor John Metcalfe.
“John and I have been friends for our whole lives, and he’s done a lot of good things,” Mehlenbacher said. “He dedicated eight years of his life to the town.”
Mehlenbacher thanked family, friends, and community for “overwhelming” support through the campaign process: “It’s been amazing … I’m really grateful for that.”
Mehlenbacher said he has heard from many residents of the largely rural ward who are worried about residential growth levels.
Additional concerns he hopes to address include enhanced road safety, the condition of the Cayuga ballpark, and riverbank maintenance.
“I consider all those little things,” he said. “They all add up to be big things.”
His primary goal will be to remain accessible: “You have to listen to your residents and what they want.”
In Ward 3, longtime Councillor Dan Lawrence called re-election an honour.
Lawrence was blunt about the “unbelievable” online discourse throughout the campaign, which affected not just candidates “but our friends and our family.”
“All candidates need a big pat on the back and my sincere thanks for putting themselves out there and having to deal with everything that they have,” said Lawrence.
He defended the current Council’s work over the last four years, stating that the characterization of a group at odds was inaccurate.
“Overall, the discussions were never, for the most part, disrespectful or uncivil. There were times, 100%, missteps,” he said.
Lawrence’s priorities for the new term include a continued focus on physician recruitment, safer streets, and affordability.
“The key is we need to chase industry,” he said, noting industrial taxes can help offset residential tax levies and reduce reliance on user fees. “We need to do that.”
In Ward 4, Jason Harnett said he was excited and humbled by his victory.
“This was a hard-fought competition between some very good competitors,” he said, adding all three candidates share a desire to improve the community.
Harnett said his immediate priority is establishing relationships with fellow Council peers and County staff.
“It’s a refreshed, new Council,” he said. “I think that it’s going to take all of us to get together, get to know each other, and get a better understanding of the key priorities.”
Harnett heard resident concerns about traffic congestion in Hagersville, public safety, police visibility, downtown revitalization, and economic development. He also wants to improve County communication.
“I want people to be more aware of what’s going on, and I want more people to be involved in their local government,” he said.
Ward 5 will see a familiar face in Cathy Case, who previously served as Haldimand County’s CAO.
Case said she is eager to resume work on the County’s strategic plan while addressing residents’ concerns, such as road safety, improved recreational amenities, and garbage collection.
One recurring concern was the need for greater cooperation and respect among councillors. “You can’t expect a council to agree on everything. You have to have debate, but it has to be respectful, and you have to be tolerant of other people’s perspectives,” she said.
Economic development will be another priority, particularly attracting commercial and industrial investment to diversify the County’s assessment base: “That’s really important for me.”
As the only woman elected this term, Case said she is “very excited to bring the female perspective,” adding, “That said, my job is to represent everybody.”
In Ward 6, former Ward 5 Councillor Rob Shirton secured another four years on Council following a crowded eight-candidate race.
“I knew I ran a good campaign,” he said.
Looking ahead, Shirton emphasized the importance of building relationships at the Council table “to get a little bit more on the same page and work together.”
During the campaign, residents raised concerns about recreational facilities and rural infrastructure. Among the requests were an indoor pool, a splash pad, and a dog park, alongside improvements to rural roads around Canborough.
Shirton said Ward 6’s mixture of urban and rural communities presents different needs, particularly regarding recreational opportunities for seniors in Dunnville.
In Ward 7, Russ McTear described his victory as a surprise: “(Election Day), my nerves were on high alert. I was excited all day and worried all day,” he said. “It was definitely just humbling.”
McTear acknowledged that not everyone supported his candidacy, but said he believes his actions in office will speak for the result.
“I hope to earn the confidence of those who didn’t support me in the election,” he said. “I’m here to be the voice of everybody.”
McTear identified rural road maintenance and transportation infrastructure as priorities. Public safety was another recurring concern, with residents expressing frustration about perceived increases in crime and insufficient visible police presence. McTear expressed interest in joining the local police services board to explore opportunities for increased patrol visibility.
In the Grand Erie District School Board election, incumbent Lisa Passmore and newcomer Jen Montague secured the two available trustee positions.
Passmore expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue representing the community. “It was a close race!” she said. “I am very pleased to welcome Jen Montague to the board.”
Passmore said her priorities include effective governance, student success, and ensuring decisions reflect the board’s strategic plan.
Montague described her victory as a humbling experience.
“It’s just an amazing feeling,” she said. “I’m just super grateful.”
Montague hopes to improve communication between educators and the board while ensuring students and teachers have the resources they need.
“There’s so many different kinds of students now compared to when we grew up, and teachers have a lot more on their plate with behaviour and things like that,” she said.
Three other school board trustee positions were filled by acclamation: Toni Poirier for the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, David Paradis for Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and Dorothée Petit-Pas for Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.
Results
| Name | Total votes |
|---|---|
| Bentley, Shelley Ann | 5,209 |
| Griffin, Andy | 2,091 |
| Little, Jesse | 377 |
| Vandendool, Jake | 9,253 |
Ward 1
| Name | Total votes |
|---|---|
| Doyle, Brian | 1,617 |
| McKeen, Debera | 1,120 |
Ward 2
| Name | Total votes |
|---|---|
| Allen, William | 194 |
| Beauvais, Paul Thomas | 175 |
| Mehlenbacher, Bruce F. | 1,232 |
| Metcalfe, John | 969 |
Ward 3
| Name | Total votes |
|---|---|
| Lawrence, Dan | 1,774 |
| Mastromatteo, Ryan | 812 |
Ward 4
| Name | Total votes |
|---|---|
| Dalimonte, Tony | 957 |
| Harnett, Jason | 1,277 |
| Mroz, Anna | 251 |
Ward 5
| Name | Total votes |
|---|---|
| Case, Cathy | 1,398 |
| Chevrier, Dave | 62 |
| Tucci, Ben | 606 |
Ward 6
| Name | Total votes |
|---|---|
| Cowan, Ian | 170 |
| Edie, Geoff | 561 |
| Reinink, Earl | 296 |
| Ricker, John | 324 |
| Shirton, Rob | 733 |
| Simmons, Veronika | 128 |
| Taylor, Lisa | 280 |
| Turnbull, Patti | 110 |
Ward 7
| Name | Total votes |
|---|---|
| Azeez, Rabiya | 220 |
| Duncan, Rob | 215 |
| Jones Shaw, Kelly | 336 |
| McTear, Russ | 542 |
| Sagar, Shiwani | 173 |
| Stewart, Rebecca | 418 |
School Board Trustee
Grand Erie District School Board
| Name | Total votes |
|---|---|
| Brough, Judy | 5,746 |
| Cook, Patrick H. | 3,619 |
| Crawford, Tyrrel | 2,379 |
| Montague, Jen | 6,150 |
| Passmore, Lisa | 6,340 |
Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (English Separate)
| Name | Total votes |
|---|---|
| Poirier, Toni | Acclaimed |
Conseil scolaire Viamonde (French Public)
| Name | Total votes |
|---|---|
| Paradis, David | Acclaimed |
Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (French Separate)
| Name | Total votes |
|---|---|
| Petit-Pas, Dorothée | Acclaimed |
