Local election guide: Victoria candidates for mayor and council

Victoria voters will have plenty of choices when they head to the polls this fall.

There are eight candidates who are running for mayor and 21 candidates are seeking one of eight seats on Victoria city council in the upcoming municipal election on Saturday, October 17th.

Incumbent Mayor Marianne Alto and seven current councillors are seeking re-election, along with a mix of business owners, community advocates, political veterans and first-time candidates.

The only current member of council who will not be on the ballot is Councillor Chris Coleman.

This year’s ballot will also include an additional question: “Do you support Saanich and Victoria becoming one municipality?”

The question is not binding, but rather seeking to find out how residents of Saanich and Victoria feel about a possible amalgamation in years to come. 

Who is seeking re-election?

Mayor Marianne Alto is seeking a second term as mayor, along with seven of Victoria’s eight councillors.

These seven councillors are::

• Jeremy Caradonna
• Matt Dell
• Marg Gardiner
• Stephen Hammond
• Susan Kim
• Krista Loughton
• Dave Thompson

Candidates for mayor

Marianne Alto, incumbent

Marianne Alto is seeking a second term as mayor after winning the position in 2022.

Alto was first elected to Victoria City Council in 2010 and served three terms as a councillor before becoming mayor in 2022. She is a professional facilitator with university degrees in law and science.

When she launched her re-election campaign in May, Alto identified housing, community safety and community wellbeing as her three central priorities.

She has pointed to thousands of housing units approved during the current term, the adoption of Victoria’s Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan and progress on the Crystal Pool replacement as significant pieces of her record.

Alto has also said a second term would include continued work on transportation, parks, arts and culture, heritage, support for businesses and regional policing.

The City’s declaration lists Alto as a resident of Saanich. Candidates are not required to live in the municipality where they are running.

Lyall Atkinson

Lyall Atkinson is a small business owner and sixth-generation Victorian who also ran for mayor in 2022.

His campaign is focused on controlling property taxes, scrutinizing municipal spending, improving transparency and responding to public safety and disorder downtown.

Atkinson says major projects and long-term financial commitments should receive more public consultation and that contracts, expenditures and funding agreements should be more openly reported.

He is also calling for measurable downtown cleanup and safety goals, greater support for businesses affected by disorder and a stronger role for neighbourhood and community associations. 

More information is available on Atkinson’s campaign website.

Darren Gervais-Harrison

Darren Gervais-Harrison is an electrical engineer, project manager and community leader who has lived in Victoria for 13 years. 

If elected, Gervais-Harrison says he will focus on safer, cleaner public spaces and creating real pathways for unhoused people toward stable housing. 

He will also prioritize strengthening Victoria’s economy by making city hall easier to work with and revitalizing downtown with more events, culture and activity day and night. 

Furthermore, Gervais-Harrison says he will focus on affordability through better value for tax dollars, practical transportation options and a new approach to housing policies. 

He also supports safe cycling, reliable public transit and roads that work for those who need to drive. 

Find more about Gervais-Harrison online here.

Christopher Hanna

Christopher Hanna was unsuccessful when he ran for Victoria city council in 2022 and is now seeking the mayor’s office.

He describes himself as a fourth-generation Victorian with a 40-year career as an historian and historical researcher of all things Victoria. 

Hanna added that he is a life-long user of transit, avid walker and supporter of diversity and Reconciliation. 

According to his electoral biography, he is an advocate for substantial increases in residential density along transit arterials, an opponent of additional bike lanes and, having never owned a vehicle nor possessed a driver’s license, he is a strong advocate for proper transit shelters and bus lanes. 

Hanna added that he is a defender of single-family neighborhoods where basement and garden suites house the missing bottom. 

Mike Harris

Mike Harris is a businessman, former journeyman carpenter and real estate professional who has spent more than 30 years working in housing, construction and business.

Harris was previously the BC Conservative candidate in Langford-Highlands in the 2024 provincial election and he is still listed as a Langford resident on the City’s candidate declaration.

His mayoral campaign is centred on public safety, housing approvals, taxpayer accountability, downtown revitalization and an independent review of the City’s operations.

Harris says he would establish measurable permit targets, conduct an organizational and value-for-money review and require major programs to clearly identify their costs and intended results.

His campaign also proposes holding conversations in each of Victoria’s 12 neighbourhoods and publishing a report on what residents tell him. 

Harris’ complete list of priorities is available online here. 

David Arthur Johnston

David Johnston has previously run for mayor in Victoria, including in the 2022 election.

His nomination information identifies social media accounts associated with his campaign, but a detailed, accessible 2026 biography and platform had not been published as of September 28th.

See more on Johnson online here. 

Bruce McGuigan, challenger

Bruce McGuigan has lived in Victoria for more than 30 years and has worked in education, community services and non-profit leadership.

He previously served as executive director of Family Services of Greater Victoria, as a long-term board member and acting director of the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society and helped establish the Victoria Social Innovation Centre.

McGuigan’s campaign emphasizes ending homelessness through coordinated housing, healthcare and support services, improving public consultation, accelerating housing approvals and introducing clearer performance measurements at city hall.

He also supports increased transparency around public spending, stronger local procurement, climate preparedness, improved transit and a combination of policing, civilian crisis response and health services to address public safety.

McGuigan says he would propose a citizens’ assembly early in the next term and require the City to report back following major public consultations. 

More information is available on his website.

Gregoor Miller

According to his candidate profile guide, Miller’s priorities are to hire doctors and nurses for CRD-run clinics, repeal the “Missing Middle” affordable housing and implement a one-year freeze on property taxes. 

He would also like to put money into schools—not cut school budgets, ensure highrise apartments must have more parking spaces, create a Victoria/Vancouver museum exchange, create CRD-run supermarkets, put buskers back in the inner harbour and bring back free parking on Sundays. 

Miller does not have a candidate website. 

Candidates for Victoria city council

Wendy Bowkett

Wendy Bowkett is campaigning on public safety, affordability, transparency and rebuilding public trust in City Hall.

Bowkett says her experience over the past 20 years has given her a close view of how municipal decisions affect downtown businesses, residents and neighbourhoods.

Her platform supports non-police crisis response where appropriate, faster approvals for co-operative and non-market housing, the return of Local Area Plans, protection of the urban tree canopy and a strategic economic plan for Victoria.

More information is available on her website.

Jeremy Caradonna, incumbent

Jeremy Caradonna was first elected to council in 2022 and is seeking a second term.

Caradonna has made housing, arts and culture, recreation, climate action and community safety central parts of his campaign.

He points to housing approvals, progress on replacing Crystal Pool, the City’s purchase of the Hermann’s Jazz Club building and the adoption of the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan as accomplishments of the current council.

Caradonna says his second-term priorities will continue to focus on housing affordability, community wellbeing and creating a more sustainable and culturally vibrant city. 

More information is available here.

Herb Collins

Herb Collins is running as an independent candidate for council.

According to the candidate profile guide, Collins’ priorities are to clean up the downtown core and improve public safety, build more affordable housing options for Victorians, stronger security and support to help local businesses grow and to expand the urban tree canopy with native and fruit-bearing trees.

Additionally, Collins wants to implement “common-sense spending” that benefits all residents, accessible rehab and harm reduction and pet-friendly supportive housing. 

He would like to ban street camping, preserve old-growth forests, build wildlife crossings and end clearcutting. 

Miller does not have a candidate website. 

Melissa Cseszko

Melissa Cseszko was born and raised in Victoria and has operated a small business downtown for the past five years.

Her campaign is focused on downtown safety, accountability for municipal spending and protecting Victoria’s heritage, character and local businesses.

Cseszko says City programs should be regularly evaluated against measurable results. She also wants consistent standards for public spaces and a stronger focus on making downtown welcoming for residents, families, workers and visitors.

More information is available on her website.

Matt Dell, incumbent

Matt Dell was first elected to council in 2022 and is seeking a second term.

Dell has identified housing and affordability, community safety, parks, arts and culture and support for the local economy as continuing priorities.

During his first term, Dell supported the Crystal Pool replacement, expanded housing approvals and investments in cultural facilities and arts organizations.

His campaign is emphasizing accessible leadership and responsiveness to residents. More information is available on his website.

Shona Dion

Shona Dion is a community and labour advocate, working mother and member of the North Jubilee Neighbourhood Association.

She has served as a labour council table officer, benefit plan trustee, job steward and executive councillor, which she says gives her experience with governance, negotiations and financial responsibilities.

Dion says neighbourhoods should have a greater role in addressing housing affordability, climate resilience and community safety. Her campaign emphasizes community-led decision-making, organized labour and bringing underrepresented residents into municipal discussions.

More information is available on her website.

Steve Filipovic

Steve Filipovic is running as an independent candidate and has linked his campaign to a website called Accountability Culture.

As of September 15th, a detailed and accessible candidate biography or 2026 municipal platform was not available through the major election information sources reviewed for this guide.

Jerry Garcia

Jerry Garcia is a former professional mechanical engineer, business executive, entrepreneur, educator and community volunteer.

His professional background includes 20 years with Accenture, where he held senior Canadian and international leadership roles and worked on major business transformation and technology projects.

Garcia’s campaign emphasizes public safety, government accountability, economic development, housing, transportation and protection of Victoria’s urban forest.

He supports simplifying permits, improving public transit, creating stronger performance measurements for City programs and combining enforcement with housing, healthcare and treatment when responding to homelessness, addiction and public disorder.

More information is available on his website.

Marg Gardiner, incumbent

Marg Gardiner was elected to council in 2022 and is seeking a second term.

Before joining council, she served for 16 years on the James Bay Neighbourhood Association Board. She holds a science degree and an MBA in public administration.

Gardiner has frequently taken a different position from the council majority. Her campaign priorities include police funding, public safety, neighbourhood consultation, spending restraint and greater scrutiny of housing and development policies.

She opposes the City’s current Missing Middle Housing policy and says she would introduce zero-based budgeting, strengthen public consultation and place a greater emphasis on provincial responsibility for addiction treatment and complex care.

More information is available online.

Peter Rose Gibbs

Peter Rose Gibbs is a lifelong Victoria resident, parent and community advocate who says they have spent two decades pushing governments to improve public policy.

They are running with Victoria For All, the only electoral organization fielding council candidates in Victoria’s 2026 election.

Victoria For All’s platform calls for greater City investment in public, non-profit and co-operative housing, stronger renter protections, a 24-hour community mental-health response service, expanded harm-reduction and outreach services and more free or low-cost arts and recreation programs.

The organization also supports expanded free transit, beginning with youth and seniors and additional investments in Victoria’s tree canopy and climate resilience. 

More information is available here.

Martin Girard

Martin Girard is a community advocate and former software developer who has spoken publicly about experiencing homelessness and chronic pain.

His platform calls for replacing some bylaw enforcement resources with outreach workers, restoring the City’s Renters’ Advisory Committee and expanding non-police responses to mental-health calls.

Girard also supports fare-free public transit, additional pedestrian areas and cycling infrastructure, a freeze on property tax increases and reduced police funding, with money redirected toward housing and community services.

His candidate-submitted profile and policy positions are available online here.

Stephen Hammond, incumbent

Stephen Hammond was first elected to council in 2022 and is seeking a second term.

Hammond is a lawyer and long-time Victoria resident who previously worked as a consultant, instructor and author.

His past campaigns and council work have emphasized neighbourhood consultation, public safety, fiscal responsibility and caution around development policies that he believes could increase land values or reduce community input.

Hammond launched his re-election campaign by calling for better municipal decision-making, greater accountability and a stronger focus on residents’ everyday concerns.

Find more about Hammond online here. 

James Harasymow

James Harasymow has previously run for Victoria City Council, including in the 2018 election.

His campaign website uses the message “a voice of reason,” but a detailed 2026 biography and policy platform had not been published as of September 28th.

Jason Heit

Jason Heit previously ran in Victoria’s 2020 council byelection.

His 2026 campaign website was online as of September 28th but remained under development and did not include a biography or detailed platform.

Susan Kim, incumbent

Susan Kim was first elected to council in 2022 and is seeking a second term, this time as a candidate with Victoria For All.

Kim describes herself as a renter, transit rider, cyclist, climate advocate and supporter of harm reduction.

The Victoria For All platform prioritizes public and co-operative housing, renter protections, community-based mental-health services, harm reduction, free and expanded public transit, climate resilience and accessible community and cultural spaces.

Kim is also seeking to represent Victoria on the CRD board. 

More information is available through Victoria For All’s website.

Bella Lee

Bella Lee is a lifelong Victoria resident and renter whose campaign is focused on lowering the cost of living.

Lee has worked on political and community campaigns, including Access BC’s campaign for free prescription contraception and the campaign supporting the Crystal Pool replacement.

She has also advocated for other Capital Region municipalities to assume a greater share of the regional cost of responding to homelessness.

Lee says she wants Victoria to become more affordable while supporting vibrant neighbourhoods and stronger community connections. 

More information is available on her website.

Krista Loughton, incumbent

Krista Loughton was first elected to council in 2022 and is seeking a second term.

Loughton is a documentary filmmaker and business owner whose work has frequently focused on homelessness and people living in poverty.

Her campaign identifies housing affordability, homelessness, mental health, addiction and the creation of accessible, walkable neighbourhoods as major priorities.

Loughton says she wants to complete work that began during the current term and is also seeking a seat on the CRD board.

More information is available online.

Arthur McInnis

Arthur McInnis is a law professor, former international construction lawyer and former tribunal member.

His platform focuses on fiscal discipline, public accountability, neighbourhood planning, renter protections and measurable public-safety results.

McInnis proposes zero-based budgeting, a public spending dashboard, an independent integrity commissioner, greater disclosure around land-use decisions and additional consultation before tax increases above inflation.

His housing policies include pre-approved designs for small-scale housing, rental replacement requirements, stronger relocation assistance and long-term leases of public land to non-profits and housing co-operatives.

More information is available here.

Karen Rothe, challenger

Karen Rothe has worked on emergency management, regional planning and public policy initiatives, including the evacuation of Williams Lake during the 2017 wildfires and efforts to secure sustained provincial funding for search and rescue.

Her campaign emphasizes public consultation, long-term infrastructure planning, downtown revitalization and a greater focus on core municipal services.

Rothe says the City should prioritize infrastructure, transportation, public safety, affordability and reliable public transit while providing clearer information about decisions and spending.

More information is available online.

Jack Sandor

Jack Sandor is a 27-year-old Red Seal electrician who has held leadership roles with local housing and public-transit advocacy organizations.

Sandor grew up in Victoria and says his work in construction has included seniors’ housing, apartments, townhouses, detached homes and hospital projects.

His campaign focuses on housing affordability, reliable public services, local employment and ensuring younger residents and working families can afford to remain in Victoria.

He says he wants to bring a trades and construction perspective to city hall. 

More information is available here.

Dave Thompson, incumbent

Dave Thompson was elected to council in 2022 and is seeking re-election to both council and the CRD board.

Thompson is a lawyer, small business owner and former environmental offences prosecutor. He holds master’s degrees in law and economics and has worked with governments, non-profits, businesses and Indigenous communities.

His campaign focuses on housing, safer streets, homelessness, climate action and creating accessible and sustainable neighbourhoods.

Thompson says his complete platform is still being developed through conversations with residents. 

More information is available online here.

—with files from Mike Kelly.