Who is running for mayor of Barrie?
Four candidates are running for mayor of Barrie in the October 26, 2026 election: Alex Nuttall (the sitting mayor), Tanya Saari, Kay Sayer and Russell Tighe.
This is the certified ballot. Nominations closed August 21, 2026, and the City Clerk certified the candidates on August 24, 2026. Nobody can now be added; a certified candidate's name stays on the ballot even if they withdraw.
Names and races checked on September 10, 2026 against the City of Barrie — List of Certified Candidates (Form EL07), signed by the City Clerk, dated August 24, 2026 (the City publishes the Clerk's signed list as a PDF on that page). Filing times and campaign contact details are from the City of Barrie — 2026 Election Certified Candidates List, last read September 10, 2026, plus details candidates have sent us directly, marked supplied. Home addresses published by the City are deliberately not reproduced here; see methodology.
Mayor 4
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Alex Nuttall Incumbent
Currently mayor
Council appointments: Appointed by council for the 2022–2026 term to: the Barrie Police Service Board; the Simcoe County Housing Corporation board; the County of Simcoe Human Services Committee and Performance Management Committee (Archives and Museums); the Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce (ex officio); the Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation and its Capital Expansion committee; and, with every member of council, Barrie Hydro Holdings Inc., the City-owned company that holds its Alectra shares. (City of Barrie By-law 2023-032, as amended, read October 8, 2026.)
Public role: A director of Alectra Inc., the utility in which the City holds a stake. (Alectra, Board of Directors, read October 8, 2026.)
Nomination filed May 5, 2026 at 9:47 a.m.
- Campaign site inferred
- alex@alexnuttall.ca
- 705-627-1508
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Nomination filed July 6, 2026 at 8:43 a.m.
- Campaign site
- vote@tanyasaari.ca
- 705-205-6219
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Nomination filed August 7, 2026 at 1:15 p.m.
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Certified as “Russell J. Tighe” on the Clerk's list.
Nomination filed August 14, 2026 at 2:33 p.m.
- 705-794-2259
Who can donate, and how much?
Any individual normally resident in Ontario may give a mayoral candidate up to $1,200, and no more than $5,000 in total to two or more candidates for the same council or school board. Corporations and trade unions cannot give. The candidate's own money, with their spouse's, is capped at $7,500 plus 20 cents per elector, up to $25,000. Gifts over $100 are named in the candidate's financial statement, filed after the election; the limits in every election since 2003.
Sources: Municipal Elections Act, 1996, S.O. 1996, c. 32, Government of Ontario — e-Laws. Original document. The statute itself. Where this site restates a rule, it cites the Act rather than the Clerk's summary of it. Section 37(1) on acclamations is the clearest case, because it is a duty rather than a decision. Retrieved August 9, 2026. 2026 candidates' guide: Ontario municipal council and school board elections (Campaign), Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Original document. The ministry's 2026 guide: $1,200 per candidate, $5,000 in total to candidates for the same council or board, and no limit on a school board trustee candidate's own money. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
Common questions
Who is running for mayor of Barrie in 2026?
4 people are certified candidates for mayor of Barrie: Alex Nuttall, Tanya Saari, Kay Sayer, Russell Tighe. Nominations closed August 21, 2026; the Clerk certified the ballot on August 24, 2026.
Who is running against Alex Nuttall?
Tanya Saari, Kay Sayer, Russell Tighe — the other 3 certified candidates for mayor. Every candidate's record and campaign contact is on this page.
Who is the current mayor of Barrie?
Alex Nuttall is the sitting mayor, elected in 2022, and has filed to run again in 2026.
When is the Barrie mayoral election?
Election day is Monday, October 26, 2026; internet and telephone voting opens October 16. See every date and deadline.
How much can I donate to a mayoral candidate in Barrie?
Up to $1,200 to any one candidate, and no more than $5,000 in total to two or more candidates for the same council or school board. Only individuals normally resident in Ontario may give; corporations and trade unions cannot (Municipal Elections Act, ss. 88.8 and 88.9). The candidate's own money, with their spouse's, is capped at $7,500 plus 20 cents per elector, up to $25,000. The limits in every Barrie election since 2003.
About the mayoralty
- 1mayor, elected citywide
- 10councillors, one per ward
- 30.45% turnout in 2022
Every Barrie voter gets a say in this race, unlike the ward and trustee races, where you vote only in your own. The last three contests have looked very different from each other.
| Year | Candidates | Won by | Share | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 7 | Alex Nuttall | 42.7% | 777 |
| 2018 | 2 | Jeff Lehman | 91.0% | 22,387 |
| 2014 | 4 | Jeff Lehman | 92.3% | 25,204 |
| 2010 | 8 | Jeff Lehman | 39.2% | 3,974 |
| 2006 | 3 | Dave Aspden | 50.3% | 2,441 |
| 2003 | 4 | Rob Hamilton | 51.6% | 6,312 |
Source: City of Barrie certificates of election results. Full results: every election.
The issue this race is being fought on most is homelessness: is Barrie's state of emergency still in effect, and what do the figures say?