Change

County elects new mayor and seven new council members

The County voted for change on Monday— and turnout reached a new high. Unofficial results indicate that just over half of eligible voters cast a ballot in Prince Edward County’s municipal election on Monday night: 50.07 per cent, the highest turnout since amalgamation in 1998.

Residents woke up Tuesday to a mayor-elect and seven incoming councillors who were not on the outgoing council. Not all are newcomers: three have served on council before.

Ernie Margetson won the mayor’s race with 62 per cent of the vote—the largest winning share since amalgamation. His 8,261 votes more than doubled the total for his nearest rival, Brad Nieman. Terry Shortt finished third with just over 10 per cent.

Margetson enters office with a strong mandate.

The appetite for change extended to the council races. Only three incumbents won contested elections: Kate MacNaughton, Sam Grosso and Bill Roberts. Three others—Chris Braney in Hillier, Corey Engelsdorfer in Wellington and John Hirsch in South Marysburgh— were acclaimed.

Of the three incumbents who faced challengers and won, only MacNaughton increased her vote share.

PICTON
Jane Lesslie topped the polls in Picton with 38 per cent of the vote. MacNaughton secured the ward’s second seat with 32 per cent.

Phil St-Jean, who led the polls in 2022, finished a distant third.

BLOOMFIELD/HALLOWELL
Kane Rutgers and Mark Henry, both with agricultural roots, will represent Bloomfield/Hallowell.

Rutgers earned 24 per cent of the vote in a six candidate field. Henry narrowly defeated Victor Lind for the second seat after election-day ballots were counted. Just 25 votes separated them.

WELLINGTON
Corey Engelsdorfer was acclaimed in Ward 3, Wellington.

AMELIASBURGH
Andreas Bolik returns to council alongside Dianne O’Brien and incumbent Sam Grosso.

Bolik led the six-candidate field with 27 per cent of the vote. O’Brien finished second with 22 per cent, while Grosso placed third to secure a second term.

Four-term councillor Janice Maynard finished fourth and lost her seat. She had topped the polls in both 2018 and 2022.

ATHOL
Emily Jane Pickstock won a close race to succeed Sam Branderhorst in Athol.

Pickstock earned 32 per cent of the vote, ahead of Anna Zak with 28 per cent and Tyler Langmuir with 24 per cent.

SOPHIASBURGH
Bill Roberts secured a fourth term representing Sophiasburgh, although three challengers cut into his support.

Roberts was acclaimed in 2018 and received more than 700 votes in both 2014 and 2022. On Monday, he received 552 votes— enough to defeat Megan Hutton, who earned 26 per cent of the vote, and Rachel Prinzen, who received 19 per cent.

Sophiasburgh elects one councillor.

HILLIER
Chris Braney was acclaimed in Hillier.

NORTH MARYSBURGH
Ken Morton will represent North Marysburgh for the next four years after winning 41 per cent of the vote.

Tracey Stevens finished second with 31 per cent, followed by Siobahn Harrison with 28.4 per cent.

SOUTH MARYSBURGH
John Hirsch was acclaimed in South Marysburgh.

THE QUESTION
The appetite for change also shaped the response to the ballot question: “Are you in favour of a third-party review of Council size and related ward boundaries?”

Nearly 70 per cent voted yes—a clear expression of support for a review.

Several members of the incoming council, including mayor-elect Margetson, have signalled their intent to honour the voters’ decision. Although participation in the ballot question fell just short of the 50 per cent threshold required for a binding result, that technical distinction may do little to slow the momentum for change.

OTHER BITS
Online voting proved popular in the County’s 2026 municipal election, with 64 per cent of those who voted casting their ballots online. Many described the process as quick and easy.

County clerk Catalina Blumenberg was pleased with the increase in voter participation.

“The turnout indicates local democracy is healthy in Prince Edward County,” said Blumenberg. “Our dedicated election workers helped thousands of people easily and efficiently cast their ballots. I want to thank everyone for their hard work and professionalism throughout the election.”