St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston has announced he will not seek re-election in the 2026 municipal election, marking the end of a long career in elected office.
The announcement came during the February 10th episode of Mayor’s Update with Grayden Laing of Establish Media, where Preston reflected on more than two decades in public service — including his time as Member of Parliament for Elgin–Middlesex–London from 2004 to 2015 and two terms as Mayor of St. Thomas.
Preston said the decision followed careful personal and professional consideration.
“All things have to be decided personally and professionally,” he said. “At some point, you have to ask yourself when it’s the right time to take a step back.”
Despite stepping away from politics, Preston stressed that his focus remains on the months ahead.
“There are still eight months of solid work to do,” he said. “I’ve always said I have the best Council in the world. Together, we’ve accomplished so much — and we’re not done yet.”
During his time as mayor, St. Thomas positioned itself as a national leader in economic development. The city secured major investments including PowerCo’s electric vehicle battery cell gigafactory and Vianode’s advanced battery materials facility — projects expected to create thousands of jobs and anchor St. Thomas within Canada’s growing electric vehicle supply chain.
The city has also advanced new housing developments, infrastructure upgrades, business supports, and strengthened partnerships aimed at addressing homelessness and supporting vulnerable residents.
Preston thanked residents, Council, and City staff for their support throughout his years in public life. While he will step away from elected office in 2026, he says he plans to remain active in the community.
“St. Thomas has incredible momentum,” Preston said. “I’m proud to have been part of this journey and excited for what comes next.”
An interview with the Mayor and Laing on the decision was shared by the city and can be viewed here.
myFM will be reaching out for further comment from Preston and expects updates during the Chamber’s Lunch with the Mayors event on Wednesday.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
