Leanne Caron has won the mayoral seat in Guelph’s municipal election, securing 54 per cent of the vote to replace outgoing mayor Cam Guthrie. According to unofficial results, Caron received 23,781 votes, finishing ahead of five other candidates, including former Ward 6 councillor Ken Yee Chew, who received 15,046 votes (34.1 per cent).
Did You Know? Voter participation for the mayoral race increased significantly this cycle, with 44,068 ballots cast compared to 28,586 in the 2022 municipal election.
Caron prioritizes affordability to build livable city
Caron told GuelphToday that affordability is the “number one issue” facing the city. She stated her first priority is bringing people together to build a “livable city.” After addressing roughly 100 supporters at Sonic Hall, Caron said, “The voters came out and they gave a clear message,” and added, “I’m ready to deliver. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves.”
The win follows a campaign where Caron declared a conflict of interest due to her employment with the University of Guelph. To resolve this, she announced plans to resign from that position on Tuesday.
Voters elect new council members across wards
Alongside the mayoral race, voters elected several members to the next four-year term of council. In Ward 1, incumbent Dan Gibson (3,403) and Mustafa Zuberi (2,220) won seats.
City clerk certifies unofficial mayoral election results
Of the 119,441 registered eligible voters, 44,068 cast a mayoral ballot. This total includes 9,973 votes cast during advance polls held between Oct. 10 and 18.
Other mayoral candidates included John Edward Krusky with 2,246 votes, Ryan Munier with 1,309, Rajee Sinha with 673, and Evaristo Ramas Jr. with 492. While Sinha, Munier, and Ramas are newcomers to politics, Krusky previously ran for mayor in 2022 and earned 949 votes.
BREAKING: @CityNewsKIT calls the Guelph Mayoral race for Leanne Caron. https://t.co/Ru9HXPBYjM
The results remain unofficial until the city clerk’s department certifies them, a process expected to conclude within the next few days.
November 16 swearing-in ceremony
The newly elected mayor and councillors are scheduled to be officially sworn in during a ceremony at city hall on Nov. 16.
Caron will take over from Cam Guthrie, who served three terms as mayor and one term as a Ward 4 councillor before opting not to seek re-election.
When Guelph mayor and council take office?
When will the new Guelph mayor and council officially take office?
A swearing-in ceremony is planned for Nov. 16 at city hall, where the winners will begin their four-year terms.
How did the 2024 mayoral turnout compare to the previous election?
Turnout increased by 15,482 votes, with 44,068 ballots cast this time compared to 28,586 in the 2022 election.
What is Leanne Caron’s plan regarding her current employment?
Caron stated she plans to resign from her post at the University of Guelph on Tuesday to address a declared conflict of interest.