A compact voting guide for busy Ottawans: how to pick a mayoral vote without deep research

# Quick context The municipal election is on October 26, 2026. Voter turnout has been low: 43.79% in 2022 and 42.55% in 2018. Brigitte Pellerin's short guide is aimed at people who want a sensible vote without consuming every debate or platform document.

# The single question to ask yourself Are you happy with how the city is being run and is keeping your tax bill low your top priority? Answering that single question will narrow your choices fast.

# How to use that answer

• If your answer is a strong yes: vote to re-elect Mark Sutcliffe. Pellerin's read of the race is that Sutcliffe is set to continue the same approach he's followed for the last four years, and incumbents usually have the advantage in municipal races.

• If you're not happy with the status quo: consider alternatives based on what you want changed.

# Candidate snapshots (short, practical takes)

• Experience: 12 years as a city councillor. Knows city hall procedures and reads reports closely.
• Style: Process-oriented, detail-focused, and not promising radical change.
• When to choose him: If you want someone who understands the system, will work with a team of councillors, and offers a steady alternative likely to unseat the incumbent if votes consolidate.

• Profile: Young (38), small business owner, political outsider with limited experience and no established team of aligned councillors. Positioned to the right of other challengers.

• When to choose him: If you want change and are willing to accept disruption and uncertainty in exchange for an outsider approach. Voting for Lawson can be an effective way to reduce Sutcliffe's share if you prefer not to back Leiper.

• Profile: Economist, progressive, active on social media.
• Policy points mentioned: transparency, meaningful engagement, a buck-a-ride transit proposal, and a public option for housing.
• Electability: Recent polling (as reported in the guide) suggests he has little chance of winning.
• When to choose him: If you want to vote for specific progressive policies and prefer casting a principled ballot rather than a strategic one.

• Position: Continuation of current policies, emphasis on keeping taxes low.

# Practical voting strategy

• Decide whether your vote is strategic (to defeat or unseat the incumbent) or expressive (to support a candidate whose policies you prefer).
• For a strategic vote to change the mayor: choose the challenger most likely to consolidate support against Sutcliffe—Pellerin places Jeff Leiper first for that role, with Alex Lawson as the next most effective alternative.
• For an expressive vote: pick the candidate whose platform aligns with your priorities, even if their standing in polls is low.

# Final nudge Pellerin's bottom line: make a decision and vote on October 26. Low turnout affects outcomes, so showing up will matter regardless of which side of the status-quo question you're on.