The race to become the next mayor of Norfolk County is continuing to grow, with three candidates now officially entering the campaign ahead of the 2026 municipal election.
Current Ward 5 councillor Doug Brunton and former Haldimand County mayor Ken Hewitt both filed nomination paperwork on Friday, adding their names to the ballot for Norfolk County’s top municipal position.
The pair join former Norfolk County councillor Noel Haydt, who had already entered the race earlier in the nomination period.
The upcoming election is guaranteed to bring leadership change to Norfolk County after current mayor Amy Martin announced she will not seek re-election. Martin’s decision means Norfolk voters will elect a new mayor for the first time since she took office.
Brunton currently serves as one of two councillors representing Ward 5, which includes portions of Simcoe. His decision to run for mayor instead of seeking re-election leaves one council seat in the ward open heading into the campaign season.
Hewitt brings previous municipal leadership experience to the race after serving as mayor of Haldimand County. Haydt also previously served on Norfolk County council and is now seeking a return to municipal politics through the mayor’s chair.
The mayoral race is shaping up during a period of broader change around the Norfolk County council table. Ward 3 councillor Mike Columbus recently announced he will not seek re-election after serving on council since Norfolk County was created in 2001.
Additional council races are also beginning to take shape across the municipality as candidates continue filing nomination paperwork ahead of the election.
