This month, voters in Niagara will go to the polls to pick their mayors and councillors – but they won’t get a say in who becomes the region’s most influential political leader.
Rob Flack, minister of municipal affairs and housing, will make that decision from his office on the 17th floor at 777 Bay St. in downtown Toronto, close to Queen’s Park.
The chosen individual will act as the effective “Mayor of Niagara” and lead the regional council for four years starting Nov. 15, right after the elections on Oct. 26.
“Candidates will be evaluated based on their qualifications and experience,” Flack stated in an email to The Standard, which pointed out that his ministry is also appointing seven other regional chairs. “No decisions have been finalized yet. The regional chairs will be announced following the municipal election.”
On a local level, the chair leads council and serves as CEO of Niagara Region; new provincial changes set to take effect after this election will grant them more authority akin to that of a “strong mayor.”
This expanded power includes proposing annual budgets for municipalities, making significant staffing choices – like hiring chief administrative officers – and having veto power over bylaws that don’t align with provincial priorities.
The position currently pays $141,000 each year along with a vehicle allowance. It also involves representing Niagara before both provincial and federal governments while serving as chair of the board of health.
The official selection process kicked off on July 6 when the Public Appointments Secretariat listed the role on its application portal; this is standard practice for provincial appointments.
Rob Foster, left, Wayne Olson, Peter Secord, Frank Campion and Gary Zalepa have all interviewed for the role of Niagara’s next regional chair.
Metroland file photos
The Standard confirmed that ministry officials held face-to-face interviews with five candidates. All are current members of regional council: Welland Mayor Frank Campion, Lincoln regional Councillor Rob Foster, Pelham regional Councillor Wayne Olson, St. Catharines regional Councillor Peter Secord, and Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa from Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Of these five candidates, only Olson is running again; he aims to reclaim his previous seat on Pelham town council during the Oct. 26 elections.
A source familiar with government matters said under anonymity since they aren’t authorized to share details publicly that two candidates have now been shortlisted for a second round of interviews.
Flack appointed Bob Gale as regional chair on Dec. 18, 2025; he took over from Jim Bradley who passed away in September while serving his second term as chair.
Gale stepped down less than four months later due to controversy surrounding his possession of an autographed copy of Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf.” Since then councillors have been filling in temporarily.
The province had designated Bradley as chair on Nov. 24, 2022 for this current council term after previously being elected by councillors for another term from 2018-2022 according to long-standing procedural rules within council.
The ministry did not respond to multiple inquiries from The Standard about how many applications were submitted for this chair position but did send over a list of qualifications available through their application portal.
These qualifications included electoral experience; understanding regional and provincial priorities; leading major change; engaging communities; forming partnerships; and demonstrating public service commitment.
The newly selected chair will take over a billion-dollar deficit regarding infrastructure in the region; managing a budget following consecutive tax hikes – including increases of 6.3 percent (2026), 9.6 percent (2025), 7.02 percent (2024), and 7.5 percent (2023); alongside governance challenges stemming from provincial government decisions reducing directly elected councillors by eliminating nine positions while keeping just twelve mayors within Niagara’s council structure instead. p >
In an op-ed by The Standard back on July17 , David Siegel , emeritus professorofpoliticalscienceat Brock University , cautioned against potential governance issues arising from having onlymayor seats filledinthecouncil. p >
Siegel notedthatmayors might lack therequiredmandateandregionalperspectiveforthejob , whichcouldleadto cost shiftsonto theregion itselfto protectlocaltaxpayersonce theytakeoverdecisions. p >
“Under Constitution Act , provincialgovernment retains fullcontrol overmunicipalities,” Siegel stated.“Itis commonforpeopletocallmunicipalities ‘creaturesoftheprovince,’ so legally speaking province can do what it wants here.” p >
“Whetheritbenefitslocalgovernmentinpracticeissomethingdifferent altogether.” p >
The region has witnessed eight different chairs since1970 , beginningwith John Campbell who was appointedbytheprovinceasastarter fortheupper-tier governmentalstructure initiatedwithinthisarea. p >
Niagara hasn’teverhad adirectly electedregionalchair ; preparationswere finalisedbackin2018tobringabout itsfirstpopularvoting under legislationpassedpreviouslyby Premier Kathleen Wynne ’s Liberal Government. P >
However，after Doug Ford’svictoryduring June2018elections ，his administrationquicklyrepealedlegislationintendingtosimplifyoverall c ouncil sizecutting Toronto’scitycouncil downwhilealso haltingdirect electionsforregionalchairsacross Niagara 、 Peel 、Yorkand Muskoka reinstating appointmentprocesses insteadthrough Regional Councils themselves.
The candidates
Frank Campion
Metroland file photo
Campion first became mayorof Wellandin2014servingthree terms overallleadingthethirdlargestcityin Niagarafor12years. In August he declared he wouldn’t runagainforfourthterm. P >
He has abusinessbackgroundhavingrun Campion Marketing Services Ltd. since1979. Also served nearly30yearsasprofessorat Niagara College teachingbusinessentrepreneurshipmarketingandadvertising. P >
From1991until2014 servedascitycouncillor. In2014 beforebecomingmayorranas Progressive Conservativecandidateforthe Wellandriding finishingsecondagainst New Democrat Cindy Forster whorepresentedseattypicallyheldby NDP. P >
While hesought commentsforarticleonapplication orinterviewprocesson August20 storyreportedby Dave Johnsonhe expresseddesirefor changestoprovidebettergovernance. P >
Whenchairpositionwas advertised applying seemednaturalstep. Campionstated,“Idon’tknowwhatprocessismovingforward orwhether I’llbeselected.” P >
“If offered, itwouldabsolutelyacceptbecause I’mverytask-oriented. Iwanttopositionmyselftohelpachieveanynecessarychanges.” P >
Rob Foster
Niagara Region CAMPION TALE Regular updates about current events impactingourcommunity Rob Fosterhasanextensivepoliticalrecordin Niagara. Hefirst joined Lincoln Town Councilbackin2001. Elevenyearslater, Fosterwonarepresentative seatat Regional Councilfrom Lincolnandre-electedsuccessfullytwoyearsafterward. Fostercurrentlyheadsboardof Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. He bringsalongmorethansevenyearsofexperiencebothontreasurerandsittingonboardof Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technologywhichaimstoenhanceconnectivityviabroadbandexpansionprojectsupportingsubstantialhigh-speednetworksbuiltwithinunderservedruralareas. Additionally, Fosterworksasaprofessorat Niagaracollege teachingenvironmentalprogramswhilejustrecentlycompletingmasterdegreeinpublicadministrationfrom Western University. Previouslyattemptingchairpositionlasttimearound, Fosterwasamongthreepeoplechallenging Bradleybeginninglasttermbeforeprovincialauthoritiessteppedintherejectingothers’claims. Saying“Ihadsteppedforwardeightyearsagoinorderputtheregionsuccessfullyontogetherpath”Fosterspokeabouthisinterestintakingpartonceagain at present opportunity arrivingwhenitbecameavailablethissummeradding “Theirquestionswererationalgivenanyoneenteringintoajoblike this.” “We’ll seewhere itgoes,”hesaid adding“Ihavegreatrespectforallpotentialregionalchairsidentifiend. Ithinkthey’llserveuswellwhicheverchoiceismade.” )))) ) ])) ])))))))) })))]]]}}) ))) )])))))))) )) )))))] ) ( ))))]) (——————) ( } }) ) ] )( )])))) ( }))} ;] } ; }} }}} )) )} ) ; ) } } ]} }}] ]) ); { } } { })})}} }) })( () ]) (((( |)) || | ; }} ; |} | | =|}}]} ;; )) ) = } }) ={ **))))) ])(_)(/“““ //({{{}/`;;/ )/(//(()`(()()) / `= ))))) {}{} ((((((“““ ` : |; ` ,,`| `)` “`<
Wayne Olson
Olsonretiredcharteredaccountantwith48yearsexperience specializingcorporaterestructuringdebt issues previouslyserved Canadian Armed Forcesstraightout highschool. Hefirstgot elected Pelhamtown Councilduringayearlongbyelectionbackinthefallsof2020 gettingre-electedmidwaythroughthelocalvoteoccurredlater during springseason year later whereupon was subsequentlyassignedto Regional Councilfilling Diana Huson’svacatedseatwhomovedintoanothercareeroutsidepolitics. Olsonalsoservesactivelyrunningtransitcommissioners here intown. Olson worked primarily agribusiness accounting beforejoining Ford Motorcompany finally settlingintoautomotive supply chain overseeingseveralfactories employingaround6000 personnelwhile also takingup positionoverseeing Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association Canada tacklingissuesrelatingfree-tradeagreementnegotiations involving USA &Mexico replacing older Auto Pact framework altogether enhancing profitability margins upstreamcreatingvalueadded services. Hisprofessionaljourneyledhim Swedenwhereheldpositionmanaging directorfirmnamed Segerström closelyworkingwith Volvo obtaining valuableinsights into international markets operating aglobalframework movingbusiness forward collectively across regions ensuring efficiency improvements remain consistent throughout entire operations systems setup effectively backingoutcomesalignedtowardsenablingstronger organizationalperformance goals! After relocatingfrom Port Dover settleddown Pelhamtenyearsago he’salso activelyparticipated directingmanynonprofit organizations locally suchas Pelham Cares Community Support Service, N icole Museum, Pelham Historical Society too! Uponbeing askedaboutagefactor influencingdecisionmakingprocess,”Realisticallyyou must questionwhethersomeone wouldchoose78-year-old forthisposition”, replied Olsongrinning remarking Province’sappointment Jim Bradleyaged77 astheir Chairwasmasterful move entirely given context surrounding setup! Duringinterviewsessio, n Olsonsawextensivediscussionsongoingconcerns relatedtownhallmanagement matters clearlyunderstandingneededdirectionleadership qualitiesrequiredatthehelm.“Thatconversationperhapsshouldstayconfidential” he added further explaining elements intendedaddressedhowtheycouldlookstrengthsforthosecurrentpositions-whereimportantaspectswouldneedprioritizebasedoffexistingexperience framework building forward towards greater levels success together achieving strategicobjectives!
Peter Secord
Secord began hispoliticalcareer serving St. Catharines City Councilspanning12 yearsstarting2003 all waythrough20015deputymayoratetime holdingchairmanshipbudgetcommitteeformed previously museum boardresponsibilities! Followinglostrace mayoraltyagainst Walter Sendzik contest receiving6500+votes returning politicallife uponwinning Regional Councilpost lastyear representinghishome Cityup until Provinceeliminateddistinction between regularlyselected councils involvedthereafter much chaos ensued! Heholdsconstructioncontractorshipaving ownershipcustomdeckbuilding firm thus completingworkoftenvia tradesactivitiessmallbusiness ownership models defining professional capacities garnered therein through directhands-onapproaches taken undertakingall aspects operationalstrategicinitiatives developed according desired outcomes envisioned going forward benefiting wider community holistically instead focusing solely individualistic growth metrics alone without regard external impacts whatsoever beyond immediate financial returns expected therein taken jointly consideradditional facets integrated within holistic planning frameworks established earlier phase stewardship wise resource allocation practices need applied consistently overtimealignensuremaximumreturns achieved acrossentire spectrum results generated sustainably moving aheadfutureprospects eventually realized fully attained collectively shared sentiments building strong relationships one another aligning around common objectives benefittingentire communityfoundationsecured lastingimpacts created time-movingforward! “We’vegotgreatpotentialhere,”said Secordinregardapplicationemphasizingimportancecollaborativeefforts thosemayorsleadthemadvancetheircommonsharedinterestsgivenmostsignificantelectoralmandates behindtheiractions taken henceforth past experiences reflecteddirectlyimpact future governance initiatives aimed providing stability necessaryongoingdialogue fosteredbetweenvarious stakeholders engaged throughout process overall.” Likewise presentlyremainsflexibleenoughtakeabreak responsibilities experiencedrunningown business ventures moving forwardsiton possibilities available upcoming tenure afforded him opportunity servewelleducationalbackgroundsoughtful skillset earned passionately engaged promoting positivechange!
