The 2026 municipal election is approaching, and County of Brant residents will have an opportunity to hear directly from two of the candidates seeking the mayor’s chair.
David Swanson and Jennifer Kyle will talk about Brant’s mayoral race this Friday, August 28, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.
Watch the conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr9vJIHh69c
This discussion offers a chance to listen to two local candidates, learn more about their priorities and consider the issues that will shape our communities: from Paris and St. George to Burford, Oakland and the county’s rural roads.
Two candidates, different priorities
David Swanson and Jennifer Kyle bring different experiences and policy interests to the mayoral race.
David Swanson
David Swanson previously ran for mayor in 2022. In this election, he has advocated for a basic income program and more effective use of tax credits.
These ideas raise broader questions about how municipal leadership can support residents, strengthen local communities and work with other levels of government. Residents may be interested in hearing how Swanson connects these priorities to the responsibilities of the County of Brant mayor and council.
Jennifer Kyle
Jennifer Kyle is a current County of Brant councillor. Her campaign has focused on:
- Thoughtful growth
- Infrastructure
- Financial responsibility
- Rural prosperity
- Transparent government
Those priorities touch on many of the conversations taking place around kitchen tables and community meeting rooms across Brant. As growth continues, residents are weighing how to support new housing and economic opportunity while protecting farmland, managing roads and water systems, and maintaining the county’s distinctive character.
Kyle’s experience on council may also provide residents with a perspective shaped by her current role in municipal government.
A chance to hear directly from the candidates
Election coverage often reduces campaigns to short statements or headlines. A longer conversation can provide more room for candidates to explain their positions in their own words.
During Friday’s talk, residents may want to listen for how each candidate approaches questions such as:
- How should the County of Brant manage growth?
- What infrastructure investments should come first?
- How can council show fiscal responsibility while maintaining essential services?
- What does rural prosperity look like across the county?
- How should municipal government communicate with residents?
- What role should the municipality play in supporting households and local businesses?
These are not small questions. They affect the roads we travel, the services we rely on and the future of the lush farmland and historic communities that make Brant home.
I have travelled through the county enough to know that concerns can look different from one geographical ward to another. A resident near downtown Paris may be thinking about development and traffic, while a rural household may be focused on road maintenance, agricultural land and reliable services. Listening to candidates discuss the whole county can help us understand how their priorities fit together.
The full mayoral field
David Swanson and Jennifer Kyle are two of six certified mayoral candidates in the County of Brant’s 2026 municipal election.
The full field also includes:
- Christine Garneau Bisaillon
- Graham Horner
- Kent Hollett
- Stuart Braid
For the official list, certification dates and available candidate contact information, visit the County of Brant certified candidates page.
BrantVotes will continue to share local election information through our election news page, including updates that help residents follow the mayoral race and ward contests.
The countdown is on! 🗳️
The County of Brant municipal election takes place on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Friday’s conversation is one opportunity to become more familiar with the candidates before voting day. No single talk can answer every question, but hearing candidates explain their ideas directly is a useful part of being an informed voter.
If you are watching, consider making a note of the issues that matter most to you: whether that is infrastructure, taxes, growth, rural services, transparency or household affordability. Then compare what you hear with the platforms and public information provided by all six candidates.
Our community is standing at an important crossroads. The choices made in this election will help shape the future of the County of Brant, and every resident has a role in that conversation.
Tune in Friday at noon, listen closely and decide what questions you still want answered. What issue will you be watching for?
