On the first day of the 11 day voting period for the 2026 municipal election, mayoral candidate Caryn Colman has withdrawn her candidacy. Colman announced her decision to withdraw from the race in a media release issued on the morning of Friday, October 16.
“I don’t want to split the vote,” Colman said in the media release. “Given the threat of TC Energy’s Ontario Pumped Storage project, this is an extremely urgent election for Meaford. I want to clear the deck for the constituents to have a simple choice about who they want for Mayor.”
While Colman has announced the withdrawal of her candidacy, with the voting period underway, her name will still be on the ballot, along with mayoral candidates Justin Perks, and Shirley Keaveney as Meaford voters cast their votes. Municipal Clerk Margaret Wilton-Siegel told The Independent that the last day that a candidate could withdraw from the ballot was August 21.
“The implication of this is that if a candidate wished to “withdraw” now, they will still be listed on the ballot and the votes will still be counted regardless of their desire. Section 39 of the Municipal Elections Act only provides a change to this if a candidate becomes ineligible or dies,” Wilton-Siegel told The Independent.
Colman is an opponent of the hydro-electric pumped storage facility proposed by TC Energy, and that opposition along with highlighting green energy solutions for the municipality was the core of her mayoral campaign.
“I feel proud that I met my objectives. And will always be grateful to all my supporters who rooted for me every step of the way,” Colman said in her media release.
Colman advised that her campaign office located at 4 Sykes St., will remain open until October 28.
