Should You Run in the Ward You Live In?

One of the recurring questions in municipal politics is whether a councillor should live in the ward they represent. It’s a reasonable expectation, and one that deserves a thoughtful, honest discussion — especially as we look ahead to the 2026 municipal election.

I’ve lived that question firsthand.
In 2018, I put my name forward as a candidate in Ward 5. At the time, I was in the process of moving from Hanmer (Ward 6) to the Donovan (Ward 4). While I had spent the very early years of my life in Ward 5 — from birth to age six — I hadn’t lived there in over two decades.

So why run there?

Because while I didn’t live in Ward 5 at the time, I was there every single day. I drove through it to and from work. I grew up in the Valley and had lived in the Donovan, giving me a perspective shaped by both suburban and urban Sudbury. Ward 5 includes parts of both, and that lived experience mattered. I understood the concerns residents raised because I had lived versions of them — just at different stages of my life.

In 2022, I chose to run in Ward 6. That decision was partly strategic (an effort to avoid vote splitting for Ward 5) but it was also deeply personal. I had lived in Hanmer and Val Thérèse for more than 20 years, worked and managed a business in the area for eight, and volunteered with organizations like Valley East Days and the Valley East Community Action Network. Those weren’t superficial ties; they were built over decades.

At the time, I once again lived in a different ward (Ward 9) but I still spent significant time in the Valley: through my business, long-standing relationships, and the places I continued to support as a customer. When residents asked why I chose that ward, the answer was simple: I knew it, I understood it, and I was invested in it.

This is why I believe the conversation shouldn’t stop at postal codes. Ideally, councillors should live in the ward they represent. That proximity matters. But what matters just as much is whether a candidate has spent meaningful time in the ward — living, working, raising a family, volunteering, or building relationships over several years. A candidate who has only recently moved into a ward but lacks deeper understanding may be less prepared than someone with long-standing ties and demonstrated engagement.

Context matters too. A person who has lived elsewhere in Greater Sudbury for years may still bring relevant insight, especially if they’ve lived in comparable neighbourhoods or understand how decisions ripple across wards.

More important than anything else is whether a candidate can demonstrate:
Leadership and teamwork
Openness and transparency
Clear, consistent communication
A genuine willingness to listen and collaborate

Municipal governance is not just about turf. It’s about trust, competence, and the ability to work with others to move the entire city forward.

As voters, we should absolutely ask candidates where they live, but we should also ask where they’ve invested their time, their energy, their commitment, and whether they’re prepared to represent their community with honesty and integrity. Those answers matter just as much.