Where Are the Re-Election Platforms? What PEC Residents Know So Far
Prince Edward County’s 2026 municipal election is officially on. The nomination deadline has passed, the certified list of candidates is out, and voters now know who will be on the ballot this October. What's harder to find, though, is detailed campaign information from most of the current councillors seeking another term.
Eight sitting councillors are either returning to council or running for re-election: Phil St-Jean, Kate MacNaughton, Corey Engelsdorfer, Janice Maynard, Sam Grosso, Bill Roberts, Chris Braney and John Hirsch. Three of them, Engelsdorfer, Braney and Hirsch, have already been acclaimed (no one registered to challenge them in their wards).
As of late August, PEC Connect could not locate a clear, detailed 2026 platform for any of these eight. That does not necessarily mean nothing is coming. Nominations only closed on August 21, and the campaign is still young. Websites, priorities, interviews... public statements could still surface in the weeks ahead.
For now, though, residents still have something to look at: the incumbents’ voting records.
Past decisions are not campaign promises, and they should never be treated as such… but they are still worth reviewing. They can still help residents understand how each councillor has approached development, affordability, heritage, public spending, governance and other major County issues.
Below is what voters can reasonably expect based on those past tendencies, and what still needs to be heard directly from the candidates.
Phil St-Jean, Ward 1, Picton
St-Jean has set up a campaign email address (votephilstjean2026@gmail.com), but no published 2026 platform or campaign website could be found.
His recent council record shows a focus on economic activity, downtown Picton and reducing unnecessary barriers for businesses and development. During a recent debate over the Drake Devonshire’s proposed expansion, St-Jean called the repeated requirements facing the business as a “bureaucratic nightmare that drives business away.”
He also supported increasing pay for the next council, arguing that better pay could open the door to a wider, more representative range of residents willing to serve.
Based on this record, St-Jean is likely to keep emphasizing economic development, efficient administration and broader access to municipal office. Still, voters need to hear his specific priorities for Picton over the next four years.
Kate MacNaughton (Ward 1, Picton)
MacNaughton maintains active social media accounts connected to her candidacy, but no complete new platform for the 2026 campaign was found.
Instagram: campaignkatepec
Facebook: kateforcouncil2026
Her earlier campaigns focused on housing, affordability, environmental protection, tenant protections, rural land, inclusive government and better communication between residents and Shire Hall.
Her more recent votes have generally stayed consistent with those priorities. She has supported stronger heritage rules when major development projects are being considered and improved council compensation as a way to make it easier for more people to serve.
MacNaughton was one of the recognizable members of the council. Still, voters need to know what she wants to do differently this time around and what she hopes to accomplish if she wins another term.
Corey Engelsdorfer (Ward 3, Wellington)
Corey Engelsdorfer has been acclaimed so he will continue to represent Wellington without facing another candidate.
We couldn't find any new statement laying out his priorities for the coming term. His recent record shows toward a balancing approach on development. In the Drake heritage debate, Engelsdorfer argued the County should be able to support business investment while still respecting Wellington's heritage protections, and introduced the motion asking staff to keep working toward that balance.
He also opposed the recently approved increase in council pay. Wellington is dealing with some big questions involving growth, water and wastewater capacity, development, traffic, heritage and public infrastructure. Since Engelsdorfer has already secured his seat, it would be helpful for residents to hear what he plans to do about these issues.
Janice Maynard (Ward 4, Ameliasburgh)
Maynard is seeking another term in Ameliasburgh, but no new campaign website, platform or detailed re-election announcement was found.
Her recent decisions on council often show a practical and compromise-mindedness. She supported the new compensation level for the next council and also supported sending the Drake application back to staff for more work rather than picking a side outright between development and heritage concerns .
Maynard's got plenty of council experience in the race. That's helpful, but it's not the same as hearing what she actually wants to accomplish between 2026 and 2030, especially for Ameliasburgh's roads, rural communities, services and growing residential areas.
Sam Grosso (Ward 4, Ameliasburgh)
Sam Grosso has a Facebook presence tied to local candidate listings, but no complete 2026 platform that we could find.
Facebook: samgrosso2022ward4
Grosso supported the new council compensation structure. But in the Drake debate, he opposed sending the proposal back to staff, siding instead with councillors who wanted the County's heritage process to carry more weight.
That single vote might hint at a more cautious approach when development runs up against heritage protections. But one vote cannot define an entire platform.
The voters still need to hear Grosso's bigger plans for taxation, municipal spending, roads, growth, housing and services in Ameliasburgh.
Bill Roberts (Ward 6, Sophiasburgh)
Bill Roberts is facing three challengers in Sophiasburgh, but PEC Connect could not locate a formal 2026 platform or campaign launch containing detailed priorities.
He has consistently drawn attention to the social and economic conditions affecting County residents. During the council pay debate, he supported a raise but pushed back on the highest "living wage" figure on the table. His reasoning is that it felt off to consider that level of pay when so many residents themselves face food insecurity and don't earn a living wage themselves.
His past record points to a continued focus on social well-being, economic vulnerability and community services. Still, voters will want specifics such as which Sophiasburgh issues does he see as most urgent, and what's he actually proposing to do about them.
Chris Braney (Ward 7, Hillier)
Chris Braney has been acclaimed in Hillier. No new platform or statement of priorities for the next term was found.
Recent votes lean toward fiscal and governance restraint. Braney opposed increasing councillor compensation before residents vote on whether PEC should review council size and ward boundaries, arguing the County should hear from voters first.
He also raised concerns about development and environmental protections, calling for a review of the Cold Creek subdivision process and its impact on Waring’s Creek.
With no contested race in Hillier, Braney won't feel the same campaign pressure other candidates do. Which makes it that much more important for him to communicate what he intends to pursue during the coming term.
John Hirsch, Ward 9, South Marysburgh
John Hirsch has also been acclaimed. Although he maintains a website and public presence, though a newly published 2026 platform could not be confirmed.
His recent record shows strong focus on heritage, environmental and planning considerations. During the Drake debate, Hirsch warned that the decision could establish an important precedent and argued that the County should respect the expertise of its Built and Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee.
He supported the new council compensation structure, reasoning that adequate compensation could encourage more residents to consider running for office.
South Marysburgh residents now know who their councillor will be, but they should also be told what Hirsch intends to prioritize over the next four years.
Residents Can Review the Record
Campaign platforms matter because they tell voters what candidates say they will do. For incumbents, voters can also examine what they have already done.
PEC Connect has published easy-to-read coverage of every recent Prince Edward County council meeting, allowing residents to research how individual councillors approached actual decisions (not just what they say during an election).
Readers can review discussions, motions, disagreements and voting results involving budgets, development, roads, housing, heritage, municipal services, council structure and other local matters. Looking across several meetings provides a fairer picture than relying on one controversial vote or a single campaign slogan.
As new platforms and candidate information become available, PEC Connect will continue following the election. Residents can also consult the regularly updated Quinteist candidate directory for candidate contact information, campaign pages and local election coverage.
It is still early… but incumbents are asking residents to renew their trust for another four years, or in three wards, they are returning without a contested vote at all. A clear account of what they hope to accomplish next is not an unreasonable thing to ask of a candidate for public office.
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