On the Campaign Trail ’26: Leal Steps Out, Hailman Steps Into Mayoral Race as Clerk Certifies Candidates

I entered this race fairly late. In fact, a week before nominations closed, I wasn’t planning to run at all.

There were already candidates across Peterborough putting forward perspectives I was excited to see represented. In Otonabee, that changed when Jessica Correa had to withdraw her candidacy just days before the deadline. Suddenly, I was looking at a race where voters had considerably less choice than they’d expected to have.

That bothered me.

Elections shouldn’t just be about whether we like or dislike the people currently in office. They should give residents a genuine opportunity to decide what they want the next four years to look like. When an outcome starts to feel predetermined before anyone has voted, something is missing.

So I spent a slightly frantic day gathering the remaining signatures I needed and filed my nomination the following morning.

Since then, I’ve been trying to build the kind of campaign I’d want to see as a voter: clear about what I believe, willing to explain how I reached a position, and interested in hearing from people who disagree with me.

There are five of us running for two seats in Otonabee. That means residents have a real choice. I think that’s healthy, and I’m looking forward to making my case for what I can bring to City Council.