St. Thomas and Central Elgin Mayors Announce Retirement Ahead of October Civic Elections

ST. THOMAS, ON — In coordinated announcements on Saturday, St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston and Central Elgin Mayor Andrew Sloan confirmed they will not seek another term in the upcoming October 2026 Ontario municipal elections, signaling a major generational shift in regional leadership.

Industrial Boom and Infrastructure Stewardship

Both mayors have overseen a transformative period for Elgin County, highlighted by the establishment of the multi-billion-dollar Volkswagen PowerCo electric vehicle battery manufacturing gigafactory in St. Thomas. The massive project has triggered unprecedented industrial land development, municipal boundary adjustments, and major provincial infrastructure investments along the Highway 3 corridor.

Mayor Preston, a former federal Member of Parliament who served two terms as mayor, stated that with the industrial foundation secured and major zoning frameworks finalized, the community is well-positioned for new leadership to manage long-term community growth.

Regional Growth and Housing Challenges

Central Elgin and St. Thomas face significant growth pressures, including expanding water and wastewater treatment capacity, building thousands of new workforce housing units, and preserving agricultural heritage.

Local business leaders in St. Thomas noted that incoming municipal councils will inherit substantial capital reserves alongside complex construction timelines for regional bypasses and transit connections.

Candidate Nomination Timelines

Candidate nomination papers for the mayoralty and ward council positions in both municipalities must be filed with local city clerks before the statutory nomination deadline on September 11, 2026.