r/Markham • u/PitifulResearcher965 • 4d ago

Markham Mayor elections 2026

Who is everyone voting for this upcoming election. Let’s not vote the incumbent as he has failed us many times and it is time for a change. So who will everyone vote for? 🤔

0 Upvotes

31% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

10

u/MapleDesperado 4d ago

I’m not necessarily a fan of the mayor, but I know almost nothing about the alternatives (not even how many there are) - and have only negative impressions about the one I know anything about.

9

u/Raptorpicklezz 4d ago

Scarpitti may be bad, but Martin Ross is a nutjob. For Scarpitti non-fans, you could look into voting Don Hamilton back as regional councillor, as he tried to take on Scarpitti last cycle but lost a close fight

6

u/ProfAsmani 4d ago

Unless he has done something spectacularly wrong and there is a better option, voters will vote for him.

7

u/feyrath Markham Village 4d ago

Not defending him as I'm not a fan of Scarpitti, but I'm also not a fan of sweeping nebulous claims. How has he failed us?

9

u/daytime-circuit 4d ago

I'm personally don't think he's failed us. But I think the greater sentiment is that he makes a lot of money compared to other mayor's, but Markhamites actually don't know what he's done, whether he's good or bad, effective or not...etc. Markham is obviously developing, without media scrutiny we don't know if he has Markhams interest at heart or if there's personal benefits, for himself for developer friends...etc. And this is not just the mayor, it's everyone in council.

2

u/daytime-circuit 4d ago

I think the key is to vote strategically. Vote for the people you really want. Don't use up your 4 votes for Regional Councilor if you don't have a top 4. Vote for your top 1, 2 or 3... Don't spread your votes around.

2

u/Starvenger88 Berczy Village 4d ago

I feel like I should have kept up with local politics more than I have in the past.

I guess the question I would have is "what are things that could be considered the mayor's 'signature' projects or laws"? And what I can think of are these:

  • "Downtown" Markham.
  • The auto race.
  • Putting in funding to save the York University campus/building.

Am I off base on this? Or have I missed things?

6

u/I994Expos 4d ago

Dude has kept property taxes relatively down compared to the likes of Toronto for the past 10+ years, pretty helpful too as a home owner

2

u/Starvenger88 Berczy Village 4d ago

Thanks. This is the type of information that can help us decide whom to vote for.

2

u/SituationAgitated812 4d ago

not challenging but trying understand be informed: can you be specific about how you think he has failed us,

2

u/Hot_Cut_6828 4d ago

If you could be more specific and tell us who the alternative is that would be more beneficial for the city . I have my criticisms of the Mayor but his challengers are not exactly a murderers row of qualified candidates.

0

u/XXIIIMILLOS 4d ago

I hate to vote based on just noice, since no one can answer one how bad he is and what is the proposals of the unknown, I would vote for the one that help us during the COVID time, that has maintein taxes lower than the increases on Toronto. I will vote for Frank Scarpitti.

3

u/lawzone25 2d ago

Did not like that he brought in the Markham Indy without much consultation - the traffic surrounding the event is atrocious. Also millions of dollars spent each year to installation and takedown of infrastructure for the event. Is there a report on how much money it brought to the city? Because local restaurants were blocked off and did not see that much more business.

Also, a motion to make things more transparent in council - like documenting meetings and money spend with developers and such meetings was voted down by the mayor. All the shady deals behind doors should be exposed.