City of Waterloo · 2026 municipal election

Compare the people running to be Waterloo’s next mayor.

Candidate backgrounds, priorities, and policy positions—organized in one place and linked to original sources.

IndependentNot affiliated with a campaign

Source-ledClaims will link to evidence

In progressProfiles are being researched

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Candidate directory

Five candidates for mayor

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Campaign sources reviewed

Candidate for Mayor of Waterloo

Jeyas Balaskanthan

Stated goals and qualifications drawn from the candidate’s campaign website.

Featured goals

Build an entrepreneurial, inclusive economy with opportunity in every neighbourhood. VAGUE
Make City Hall responsive and customer-focused, reducing delays, red tape and broken promises. CLEAR

Relevant experience

Has served as Executive Director of the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area since 2022.
Serves on the City of Waterloo Economic Development Committee.

Political spectrum Centre-right

Entrepreneurship, less red tape, public safety and customer-focused government place the platform right of centre, tempered by inclusion and resident-led planning.

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Campaign sources reviewed

Candidate for Mayor of Waterloo

Jamie Hari

Stated goals and qualifications drawn from the candidate’s campaign website.

Featured goals

Create a municipal corporation to build and operate non-market housing, targeting 10% of the city’s stock within 20 years. CLEAR
Phase in free GRT passes, beginning with seniors and students and then extending them to every Waterloo resident. CLEAR

Relevant experience

Works as a Director of Product Management.
Has more than 15 years of experience managing people.

Political spectrum Socialist

Explicitly socialist; proposes municipal ownership, non-market housing, universal free transit, progressive taxation, stronger unions and a smaller police budget.

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Campaign sources reviewed

Candidate for Mayor of Waterloo

Jerry Jiang

Stated goals and qualifications drawn from the candidate’s campaign website.

Featured goals

Make opening a business and navigating permits clearer and easier. CLEAR
Use local technical knowledge and experimentation to improve city life. CLEAR

Relevant experience

Founded Akatos, a Waterloo startup community and hacker house for young builders.
Organized a community picnic in Waterloo.

Political spectrum Centrist

Entrepreneurship and easier permitting lean right, while public transit, public space and city-backed local pilots keep the platform close to the centre.

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Campaign sources reviewed

Candidate for Mayor of Waterloo

Dorothy McCabe

Stated goals and qualifications drawn from the candidate’s campaign website.

Featured goals

Build more housing and continue pursuing affordable and attainable housing. CLEAR
Invest in neighbourhoods, parks, arts, festivals and public spaces. CLEAR

Relevant experience

Was first elected Mayor of Waterloo in 2022.
Represents Waterloo on Region of Waterloo Council and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario board.

Political spectrum Centre-left

Affordable and cooperative housing, public investment and climate-ready infrastructure place the platform left of centre, moderated by business support, streamlined approvals and tax restraint.

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Campaign sources reviewed

Candidate for Mayor of Waterloo

Shannon Weber

Stated goals and qualifications drawn from the candidate’s campaign website.

Featured goals

Provide accessible leadership, reliable services, accountability, communication and meaningful consultation. CLEAR
Make municipal spending deliver value and address tax and utility-cost affordability. VAGUE

Relevant experience

Has more than 30 years of experience in the municipal, nonprofit, higher-education and financial-services sectors, including Executive Director and Chief of Staff roles.
Served on Waterloo’s Economic Development Advisory, Neighbourhood Strategy and Town and Gown committees.

Political spectrum Centre-right

Spending value, tax and utility-cost affordability and local-business growth place the platform right of centre, tempered by commitments to public services and shared spaces.

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How to read this guide

Candidate pages summarize published campaign material. Spectrum placements are editorial assessments of policy, not candidate self-identification; follow the source links on each profile for the original context.

Policy inventory

Stated goals by candidate

Source review · September 30, 2026

Counts of the stated goals listed in each candidate profile, grouped by primary policy area.
Candidate	Basic Needs	Economic	Environment	Government	Public Safety	Public Services	Total
Jeyas Balaskanthan	0	1	0	3	1	0	5
Jamie Hari	13	2	2	1	3	10	31
Jerry Jiang	1	1	0	5	0	6	13
Dorothy McCabe	1	2	1	2	0	2	8
Shannon Weber	1	2	0	1	0	1	5

Counts are calculated from stated goals in the candidate websites. A zero means no listed goal falls under that policy area; this implies the candidate has not publicly expressed a position in that area, it does not imply that the candidate has no position on the subject.