MacLellan, Biss make upward moves on day one of municipal campaign
Posted May 1, 2026
Day one of the 2026 municipal election campaign in New Tecumseth opened this morning with the registration of current Deputy Mayor Stephanie MacLellan to run-up for Mayor.
Incumbent Mayor Richard Norcross told Free Press Online recently his intention is to seek reelection to a second term. In that case, it will be the first time since the election of 2003 that an incumbent mayor would be challenged by a sitting member of Council. Then Mayor Larry Keogh was challenged by his Deputy, Keith Bishop, as well as then Alliston Ward Councillor Mike MacEachern, who defeated both for his first of three terms.
Also looking to move up is Ward 5 councillor Marc Biss who has registered to run for Deputy Mayor.
The 2026 election in New Tecumseth takes place under a new seven Ward system down from eight.
Ward 1 incumbent Chris Rapin has signed on for reelection.
In Ward 3, Tony Phekoo has put his name forward. Phekoo ran in Ward 5 in 2022.
Incumbent Nicole Cox is running for reelection in Ward 5, which is one of the reshaped wards that includes all of Beeton and more rural.
Incumbent Shira Harrison McIntyre is running in the reconfigured Ward 6 which is part of the split ward in Tottenham.
Eligible candidates have until 2 pm Aug. 21 to register.
Key Dates
Nomination Day: May 1.
Nomination filing deadline: Aug. 21 @ 2 pm
Certification of nominations: Aug. 24
Third Party Advertising Registration Period: May 1 to Oct. 23
Advance Voting Period: Oct. 13 - Oct. 25
Election Day: Oct. 26
New Term of Council: Nov. 15
Inauguration: Nov. 16
New Tecumseth Ward races starting to fill in
Posted May 5, 2026
Wendy Gabrek has signed on to run for reelection in Ward 2 New Tecumseth.
She joins the list that includes:
Stephanie MacLellan, for Mayor;
Marc Biss, for Deputy Mayor;
Chris Rapin, Ward 1;
Tony Phekoo, Ward 3;
Nicole Cox, Ward 5; and
Shira Harrison McIntyre, Ward 6.
On the school board front, Janice Hutchison, is in for reelection to the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, New Tecumseth trustee.