Ward 5 councillor candidates

6 candidates · Two council seats

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6 Ward 5 councillor candidates across 15 comparison questions.
Candidate	01Offices held or sought	02Connection to Welland and the ward	03Education and credentials	04Work and leadership experience	05Municipal and public-service record	06Committee and community service	07Reasons for running and priorities	08Published priorities	09Budget and financial experience	11Conduct findings and outcomes	12Public political affiliations and candidacies	13Prior election results	14Campaign contact details
Aaron AlbanoView candidate		Born and raised in Cooks Mills and has lived in Welland for 38 years. Source: Candidate submission · 02/10/2026 His family has served Welland for generations, including Crowland Township council in 1956, Welland Hydro, Welland Forge, Atlas, the seniors centre and the Welland Fire Department. SourcesCampaign website	Attended Brock University for an undergraduate Bachelor of Music in piano performance. Subsequently earned a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Western Ontario. Graduated with honours from Eastdale Secondary School in 2006. Source: Candidate submission · 02/10/2026 SourcesChoralis Camerata — About Us Campaign website	Occasional high-school music supply teacher with the DSBN; previously directed student concert bands and choir ensembles. Source: Candidate submission · 18/09/2026 Piano accompanist for Choralis Camerata. Piano instructor at Quarter Note Music Arts. Wedding pianist with The Fox Music. SourcesCampaign website Choralis Camerata biography Quarter Note Music Arts instructors The Fox Music vendor biography		Music Director for the choir at Central United Church in Welland. SourcesCentral United Church — Committees and Groups Campaign website		Stop multi-unit housing development in Ward 5. Source: Candidate submission · 29/09/2026 Relocate homeless shelters from locations he considers a public-safety concern and support addiction-treatment programs for people who need them. Source: Candidate submission · 29/09/2026 Oppose further industrial development in Cooks Mills, protect its farmland and green space, and oppose the City's planned new community centre there. Source: Candidate submission · 29/09/2026 No residential property-tax increases during the next council term; would fund essential and emergency services first and consider cuts to some non-essential programs. Source: Candidate submission · 29/09/2026 Redirect spending toward road maintenance and residential traffic measures, including speed bumps and four-way stops. Source: Candidate submission · 29/09/2026 SourcesCampaign website City of Welland — Cooks Mills Community Hall and Park			Volunteered as a canvasser for Fred Davies in the 2025 federal election. SourcesCandidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)		Campaign email: aaronalbano.welland@gmail.com. SourcesCity candidate registry Linksaaronalbano.welland@gmail.com Campaign website Campaign Instagram
Mark DzuganView candidate	Council service from 2000 to 2010. Official results confirm a Ward 5 candidacy in 2022. SourcesThe Pointer Official 2022 election results Certified candidates, August 24, 2026			Works at JJ Patterson and Sons Funeral Residence. SourcesCandidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)	Prior council service from 2000 to 2010. Council experience includes vice-mayor roles and service on the Welland Hydro Board. SourcesThe Pointer Candidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)	Community service includes the Welland Heritage Council board and the City’s property standards committee. SourcesCandidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)	Disagrees with the choice of location for the homeless shelter. SourcesCandidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)	Identifies homelessness, industrial expansion into rural areas and the effects of residential growth on existing neighbourhoods as priorities. SourcesCandidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)				Contested Ward 5 in 2022; certified to run there again in 2026. SourcesOfficial 2022 election results Certified candidates, August 24, 2026	Campaign: 905-788-1306 · mdzugan@cogeco.ca. SourcesCity candidate registry Linksmdzugan@cogeco.ca 905-788-1306
Michelle FebersView candidate				Hospitality general manager. SourcesCandidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)		In her archived 2010 candidate bio, Michelle Febers described nine years on a mountain minor soccer and baseball community council and roles including Recording Secretary, Soccer President and Community Council President. SourcesRaise the Hammer Elections — Michelle Febers, Candidate for Ward 6 in Hamilton Municipal Election 2010	Calls for affordable living, responsible spending and accountability at City Hall. SourcesCandidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)	Prioritizes roads, sidewalks, sewers and lighting, and wants growth kept within infrastructure capacity while protecting farmland and green space. Wants police, fire and emergency services to have sufficient staff and resources. Wants safety concerns around the Ontario Road shelter addressed while balancing compassion with residents’ safety. SourcesCandidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)					Campaign: 905-531-3393 · wmicky6@hotmail.com. SourcesCity candidate registry Linkswmicky6@hotmail.com 905-531-3393
Connie McCutcheonView candidate		Born in Welland, raised her family here and has lived in urban and rural parts of Ward 5. Her campaign emphasizes the needs of established neighbourhoods, growing communities and rural areas within the ward. SourcesCampaign website Candidate biography	Honours BA in Geography; attended Western and Brock universities. Certificate in Urban Environmental Studies from Brock University. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 PROSCI Certified Change Practitioner. Completed DeGroote governance training through McMaster University at the Ron Joyce Centre. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 Obtained LEAN certification through Niagara Region. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 SourcesCandidate biography	More than 30 years working with municipalities in Ontario and across Canada on service improvement, accountability and transparency. Retired municipal IT professional; casual employee at Niagara College. SourcesCandidate biography Candidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)	Member of the City’s Heritage Advisory Committee. SourcesCity of Welland	Serves on the Heritage Advisory Committee, whose listed appointments run until November 14, 2026. President of MISA Canada and past president of MISA Ontario. Served as president of the Cooks Mills community group. Member of Brock University’s Niagara Community Observatory Community Advisory Committee. Former chair of the Welland Heritage Advisory Committee. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 SourcesCity of Welland Candidate biography Candidate biography Brock University — advisory committees	She calls for residents to be informed early and heard respectfully during decision-making. Believes the Ontario Road shelter lease was approved without meaningful prior community input. SourcesCampaign website Candidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)	She proposes testing major spending for need, affordability and benefit to residents. She proposes balancing development with protection of Welland’s quality of life. Prioritizes safer parks and public spaces, traffic, road and sidewalk conditions, and protecting farmland. SourcesCampaign website Candidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)	Her proposed spending test considers need, affordability and benefit to residents. SourcesCampaign website				Campaign: conniemccutcheon.com · conniemccutcheonward5@gmail.com. SourcesCity candidate registry McCutcheon campaign LinksCampaign website conniemccutcheonward5@gmail.com
Luca MeleView candidate	Ran in Thornhill in the 2025 Ontario election; his candidate-submitted profile identifies his affiliation as New Blue. New Blue candidate in Vaughan–Woodbridge in 2022; identified himself as a New Blue candidate in Thornhill in 2025. SourcesElections Ontario Candidate-submitted profile Elections Ontario			Entrepreneur. More than 15 years of community organizing, including food and clothing drives, shelter support and charity fundraising tours across Canada. SourcesCandidate biography Candidate-submitted profile	Luca Mele filed in the 2026 Welland Ward 5 race and appeared before Council in late March regarding governance review. SourcesThe Pointer — With less than three months until Niagara hits the polls, the municipal election landscape begins to materialize, shaped by PC politicking	Coordinates community round tables and outreach for unhoused people. SourcesCandidate biography	Stated approach to leadership: showing up, listening and working with residents. His campaign describes a platform built with community input. Raises concern about locating a homeless shelter in a school zone. SourcesCampaign statement Candidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)	He proposes more efficient transit routes and improved public-safety measures. He proposes updating parking, property-standards and zoning bylaws. He advocates expanded healthcare and diagnostic services in Welland. He commits to monthly community meetings shaped by residents’ ideas. He proposes balancing compassion, safety and neighbourhood concerns in responses to homelessness. Supports preserving farmland in Cooks Mills. SourcesMele campaign Candidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)	Property-tax relief and affordability measures, including rebate programs, tax cuts, tax-deferral and relief/rebate programs, and utility-support programs. SourcesLuca Mele Campaign for Ward 5 City Councillor		New Blue candidate in Vaughan–Woodbridge in 2022; his candidate-submitted 2025 Thornhill profile also identifies New Blue affiliation. SourcesElections Ontario Candidate-submitted profile	Placed fifth of six candidates in Thornhill in 2025, with 523 votes — 1.47% of valid votes. SourcesElections Ontario	Campaign: lucamele.ca · votemele@gmail.com · 289-943-1770. SourcesCity candidate registry Mele campaign LinksCampaign website votemele@gmail.com 289-943-1770
Claudette RichardView candidate	Appointed to Ward 5 council in September 2017; elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 SourcesCity of Welland Official 2022 election results Certified candidates, August 24, 2026 City of Welland	Lifelong Welland resident; 55 years in Ward 5 as of September 2026. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 Ward 5 councillor for the 2022–2026 term. SourcesCity councillor profile Official 2022 election results	PMAC certification through Niagara College. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 HGS leadership training in performance appraisals, associate relations management, coaching, time management, interdepartmental teamwork and human resources. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 SourcesCandidate biography on City website	More than 40 years in senior management roles in Welland, Niagara Falls and Toronto. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 Opening-team member and manager at both Niagara casinos, including hiring Welland residents affected by workplace closures. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 SourcesCandidate biography on City website	Appointed to Ward 5 council in September 2017; elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 SourcesCity of Welland Official 2022 election results Certified candidates, August 24, 2026 City of Welland	Seven years as Welland Figure Skating Club president, including work organizing Learn to Skate programs. Involvement with the Welland Sports Council, Welland Recreation, Rose Festival and United Way. Named Welland Sports Council Executive of the Year. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 More than five years volunteering with Welland Recreation and the Rose Festival. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 Council-representative experience includes the Welland Hospital Initiative, a business improvement committee, the Rose Festival, the arena advisory committee and a neighbourhood homeless shelter committee. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 Council representative on the Welland Arenas Advisory Committee, appointed for January 31, 2023 to November 14, 2026. Serves on Welland Rose Festival Inc. SourcesCity councillor profile City committee roster	Identifies responsible development, high taxes, transparency and resident input as citywide priorities. Disagrees with the choice of location for the homeless shelter. SourcesCandidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)	Prioritizes agricultural-land protection, road and infrastructure maintenance, traffic, speeding and property upkeep. SourcesCandidate questionnaire · Welland Tribune (15/10/2026)	Managed multimillion-dollar annual departmental budgets at both Niagara casinos. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026	The Integrity Commissioner found no Code breach in the joint complaint about recount-related votes, in the report published in August 2023. That finding concerns this complaint only. SourcesIntegrity Commissioner report		Appointed to Ward 5 council in September 2017; elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Source: Candidate submission · 19/09/2026 SourcesCity of Welland Official 2022 election results City of Welland	Campaign: 905-735-7543 · crichard17@cogeco.ca. City office: claudette.richard@welland.ca. SourcesCity candidate registry City councillor profile Linkscrichard17@cogeco.ca 905-735-7543 City office: claudette.richard@welland.ca