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New Tecumseth mayor candidate Stephanie MacLellan shares her vision for the town

October 2, 2026   ·   0 Comments

With the upcoming municipal election on October 26, we invited each candidate to respond to the same four questions about
their reason for running, priorities and vision for the municipality, qualifications, and contact information. Their responses are published
below as submitted, subject only to length and standard copy editing for style, grammar and clarity.

Candidates were asked to keep their responses focused on their own qualifications, priorities and vision for the municipality.

Candidates are listed alphabetically within each position they are running for.

1) What are the largest issues facing the Town of New Tecumseth?

Diving into this year’s budget is the immediate priority for the new council. I aim to run budgets differently. Year after year, our budget packages are getting smaller. Stripping away critical details that allow council and residents to see the full picture rather than blurry snapshots.

To fix this, we must put residents first through transparency and open communication.

I will put in the work. Expand the budget process to include more residents and go through the budget line by line with council. I will also standardize our budget presentation, so years are easily comparable and efficiencies are quickly identified. Both will result in savings for you, the taxpayer.

A Budget under my leadership will be one of sound fiscal management, a focus on affordability and one where residents’ needs lead the process.

2) With development being mandated by the province and causing concern among residents, how should council approach development and growth?

Council must manage mandated growth through local consensus, planning that listens to residents and community engagement that goes above and beyond what is expected. The “Strong Mayor” powers the province has given to mayors are not an excuse to work around residents, and it is a planning tool I do not see as democratic nor useful.

I will manage growth in New Tecumseth through leadership and consensus rather than executive decrees.

Growth cannot come at the expense of our agricultural identity or the quality of life of our residents.

As mayor, I will immediately implement these three pillars into our growth strategy.

A) Master Servicing Plan: Mapping out precise infrastructure and water capacity requirements before approving new builds.

B) Intensification Assessment: Prioritize building upwards over sprawl that cuts into valuable farmland.

C) Responsibly Phased Timelines: My goal is to prevent uncoordinated, leapfrogging and traffic-disrupting construction from making residents’ lives harder.

True leadership means building a community that seamlessly integrates new neighbours while actively protecting the investments of existing ones. Not every open field is meant to become a subdivision.

By firmly rejecting the use of strong mayor powers to bypass public consultation, I will ensure that our residents always have a seat at the table. Growth should benefit the people who already live here, and as mayor, I will never use centralized powers to force development where it simply does not belong.

3) What experience and leadership qualities do you have that make you the right choice for residents’ votes?

After eight years of dedicated council service as a straightforward, honest and highly accessible leader, I want to offer the residents of New Tecumseth a work ethic and focus that I feel they deserve. You deserve to be informed and be a part of the process.

I will bring a clear and collaborative vision to town hall. One that builds on the strength of community but also fights for its fair share. This is the leadership New Tecumseth needs.

Things have shifted at town hall over the last four years. When major decisions about how our communities grow come as a surprise to residents, real leadership is missing.

True leaders do not use executive shortcuts or force plans through without building consensus. If a proposal is genuinely good for New Tecumseth, it will stand on its own merits.

I believe leadership means earning your trust every single day by focusing on your needs, working to address your issues and celebrating your successes.

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