Ashmore announces run for mayor this October, promising a Walmart and reduced development charges
Ward 6 Coun. Ron Ashmore has announced on Facebook he is running for mayor in the fall municipal election.
Invoking populist-style messaging – including a guarantee of Walmart appearing next year – the Omemee-area councillor says in his message he will be the “people’s mayor.”
Among his promises, as listed on Facebook, will be to complete all roads in the queue by 2030.
“The great people of Kawartha Lakes have been here for me and my challenging last 15 months and I felt that this is the time to make the move while I am in good shape and have the energy and stamina for the job,” he writes, a nod to the tragic death of his son, Michael, who was killed in an ATV accident.
Another key promise from the Ward 6 councillor is to reduce development charges “that have placed you out of the housing market,” he writes. He also notes he will bring “back business and employment to our communities.”
Development charges fund water, sewer, roads, transit, and emergency services. Most municipalities rely heavily on these and cannot eliminate them without a replacement revenue source. A new federal–provincial program encourages partial reductions.
His Walmart promise is further fleshed out in his statement, noting he will work with developers now “and I will personally go to Bentonville, Arkansas USA at my own expense in winter 2027 to secure it if elected.”
Ashmore says he will also support farmers, GO Transit to Lindsay, and a “Kawartha Lakes Civil Defense” for when an emergency arises.
Mayor Doug Elsmlie is widely expected to announce he will be retiring after this term. Ashmore and Ward 8 Coun. Tracy Richardson were the two councillors most cited by municipal news watchers as most likely to run for mayor. Ward 3 Coun. Mike Perry has already stated he will not be running in 2026.
