Jeff Kohler has been elected mayor of St. Thomas, earning 7,407 votes in Monday’s municipal election.
Kohler defeated Aidan Frederick, who received 2,641 votes, and Corey Janzen, who finished with 745.
He ran on a campaign focusing on the value of proven experience as the head of council.
Eight councillors have also been elected to St. Thomas city council for the 2026-2030 term.
Steve Wookey led the council race with 6,292 votes, followed by Lori Baldwin-Sands with 6,075 and Mike Brisson with 5,834.
The remaining elected councillors are Gary Clarke, with 5,734 votes; Heather Jackson, with 5,208; Kyle Yates, with 5,103; Rose Gibson, with 4,544; and Joe Docherty Jr., with 4,050.
The results mean incumbents Jim Herbert, Earl Taylor, and Joan Rymal will not return to council. Herbert received 3,959 votes, Taylor received 3,946, and Rymal received 3,023.
Kohler emphasized that the first order of business will be the 2027 budget, with an eye to fiscal responsibility.
Voter turnout in St. Thomas was 29.91 per cent, with 11,433 of the city’s 38,228 eligible electors casting a ballot.
The results are based on the figures provided and remain unofficial pending confirmation by the municipality.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
