Get to know the candidates running in the 2026 Municipal Election. Below, you’ll find candidate bios to help community members learn more about the individuals seeking to represent the Town of Erin. Each bio has been provided by the candidate and is shared for informational purposes ahead of the All Candidates Event.
Candidate for Mayor
Michael Dehn — Mayor, Town of Erin & Wellington County Councillor. First elected as Mayor in 2022, Michael Dehn brings a unique combination of corporate executive leadership, scientific rigor, and local agricultural stewardship to municipal governance.
First moving to Erin with his family in1983, Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences from the University of Waterloo and serves as Executive Chairman of a publicly traded Canadian exploration company alongside operating Mimosa Springs Alpacas with his family in Hillsburgh.
At the council table and representing Erin at Wellington County, Michael has championed responsible, data-driven growth that protects Erin’s rural charm while modernizing vital public assets. His tenure has focused on securing millions in upper-tier and provincial investments—including Erin’s new county roads garage, ambulance base, and while not voting to support the high cost of the the adaptive restoration of the historic Daniel McMillan Grist Mill into the Village of Erin Library, Michael supports County Council and Staff in its vision and the results. It is an anchour building in the Village of Erin and hopefully will be for many generations to come.
For the Erin business community, Michael stands for fiscal accountability, aggressive external grant acquisition, modern commercial infrastructure, and pushing hard to attract new businesses to come to the village and having a level playing field to keep local businesses competitive with each other. michaeldehnformayor@gmail.com
Candidate for Mayor
I was born and raised in the heart of the Erin village and have 6 generations of working class family roots in the town. I am a retired Erin volunteer firefighter with over 11 years service, local small business owner and founding board member of the Erin Chamber of Commerce serving 2 terms. My wife, kids and I reside in the village and you will frequently see us out on the main streets.
Visit Dusty Scott for more information.
Candidate for Mayor
I am a local business owner and very active in our community. I have spent time on almost all town committees, including two terms on council. I currently sit as vice chair of the parks recreation and trails committee. Along with winning an award of distinction from the CVC for protecting the town of Erin’s drinking water I have also spent over a decade planting trees at various community planting events. I have also spent countless hours volunteering my time helping local service groups to keep the charm of the place we call home alive. Thank you in advance for your support and the opportunity to serve the people of Erin. Email:rob@accessmobile.com
Candidate for Councillor
Re-Elect Cathy Aylard, Councillor Let’s make sure Erin always feels like home. Erin is evolving, bringing new opportunities and complex challenges to our community. Here are my 7 priorities to move Erin forward with community at the center of it all.
Visit cathyaylard.ca for more information.
Candidate for Councillor
Hi, I am Sunjay Bedi (P.Eng., M.A.Sc., B.Eng.), and I am happy to announce my candidacy for Erin Town Councillor. I've lived in Erin for six years and am proud to call it home. I've made good friends here, both in the rural countryside and in the urban areas.
Since moving to Erin, I've become more involved in the community than ever before by:
Over the past year, I have attended town council meetings on a regular basis, where municipal and village topics are discussed. Through this, I've become well acquainted with the issues facing Erin and its residents, and I believe I can be a strong, thoughtful, and analytical voice in making the hard decisions that will shape Erin's future — in our rural areas, our village, and our new neighbourhoods.
Erin residents face many challenges: gravel pit reclamation, managing growth through urban development, severances and ARUs, and several other issues on the horizon. Many of these changes are being mandated by the Ontario government and the County of Wellington. To protect our autonomy, our town and its citizens need a stronger voice in these decisions and future mandates.
I was raised in small towns in Quebec and in the City of Montreal, until I finished my engineering degree at McGill University. I then moved to the Kitchener-Waterloo area to complete my master's degree at the University of Waterloo. Over the course of my life, I've lived and worked in many places across Canada, the USA, and internationally, and I can relate to both the advantages and the drawbacks of life in a variety of places.
I am a retired Professional Engineer who worked as an IT consultant and business owner. Professionally, I've worked on large, long-term, multi-million-dollar projects as well as smaller, more responsive initiatives. After a successful career in IT, I can now focus full-time on giving back to the local community where my wife and I chose to build our lives.
My wife Dorie, our three dogs, and our cat enjoy a tranquil life in the Erin countryside. As I often say, we live "the good life in Erin" — and I want to keep it that way!
I look forward to the 2026 campaign, to meeting many of you, and to representing your needs to the Town of Erin, the County of Wellington, and the Province of Ontario.
Visit Sunjay Bedi for more information.
Candidate for Councillor
My wife Lorrie and I have been Erin residents for 33 years. It's been my honour to serve on Erin Council for the past 20 years and to represent Erin on many outside boards, including County of Wellington Economic Development and Green Legacy Committees, both Grand River and Credit Valley Conservation Authorities as well as the Headwaters Tourism Board. My terms in office have given me a great deal of experience which I bring to decisions that benefit the town as whole. I believe strongly in being a contributing member of the community and you will most likely find me at many of the events that take place in our town.
Visit John-Brennan-for-Council for more information.
Candidate for Councillor
2 Terms on Council, 20 years on Erin Heritage Committee, 15 years with Hillsburgh Community Committee, over 15 years with the Erin Agricultural Society, community is of utmost importance.
Community. Communication. Common Sense.
Candidate for Councillor
I am Sukhchain Gill, a new resident of the Town of Erin and a local business owner. Having lived in both larger urban centres and smaller communities, I have found something special in Erin. Since moving here, it has felt like the kind of community I have always wanted to call home—a place where people know one another, local businesses matter, and community spirit is strong.
I am putting my name forward for Town Council because I want to dedicate my time, experience, and energy to helping Erin grow while preserving the qualities that make it such a special place to live. I believe public service should be about listening to residents, understanding their concerns, and working with the community to find practical solutions.
I am a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) and a local business owner. Through my immigration consulting practice, I help individuals and families build new lives in Canada. This work has given me a deep appreciation for the importance of welcoming communities, strong local economies, and opportunities for people to build a future where they live.
As a small business owner, I also understand the everyday realities of running a business—navigating regulations, managing costs, adapting to challenges, and earning the trust of customers. I want to bring that practical, service-minded perspective to municipal decision-making and work constructively with residents, businesses, and community organizations.
My Priorities
I believe Erin's greatest strength is its people. My goal is to listen, learn, and work collaboratively to help build a community that remains welcoming, financially responsible, vibrant, and connected—both for the residents who have called Erin home for generations and for those who are just beginning their journey here. Contact me at sgillforerin@gmail.com for any questions you have.
Candidate for Councillor
Benita Raponi is a resident of Erin and a candidate for Town Councillor. She came to Erin because she fell in love with its small-town character, friendly people, and strong sense of community.
With her children now grown, Benita feels this is the right time to give back to the community she is proud to call home. Her experience as a union representative taught her the importance of listening, asking questions, advocating for others, and standing up for what is right. It also taught her that you can disagree with someone while still treating them with respect.
As Erin continues to grow, Benita wants to help ensure that growth is thoughtful, responsible, and supported by the infrastructure and services residents need. Her priorities are:
Benita believes residents deserve to be heard, decisions should be based on facts, and Erin’s future should be planned with the community in mind.
Visit Councillor Candidate-Benita-Raponi for more information.
Candidate for Councillor
26 years Town of Erin Resident. Married with 3 Children. 1st time candidate. Member of Erin Parks, Recreation and Trails Advisory Committee.
If elected, my focus will be on four priorities:
Phone:
519-731-8780
Email:
sid4council@gmail.com
https://sidspear.ca/
Candidate for Councillor
Tracey Wallace has called Erin home since 1981, with family roots in the community stretching back generations. As a local business owner, educator, event coordinator, parent, grandparent and longtime community advocate, she has spent decades working with Erin’s businesses, schools, families and community organizations.
Tracey believes responsible growth requires thoughtful planning, strong infrastructure, public safety and a commitment to protecting what makes Erin a great place to live.
Her priorities include:
Tracey is running for Council to listen, ask the difficult questions, demand accountability and help build a strong, safe and sustainable future for everyone who calls Erin home.
Visit Tracey Wallace for more information.
Candidate for Councillor
Hello residence, My name is Alex Zaichuk. I have called Erin home since 1994, with time spent in Cataract and Orangeville while connected to my family farm.
I am a local business owner in the construction industry and have been actively involved in our community through local events, charitable work, political campaigns, local business and sports clubs. I would love the opportunity to represent our community and put my skills, knowledge and experience to work for the municipality of Erin.
Our town is growing quickly, and protecting our heritage while planning responsibly for the future is extremely important.
I can't promise lower taxes or free handouts. What I can promise is to make our residence/people my number one focus-listening, working together and making thoughtful decisions that reflect the needs of our entire community.
My goal is simple; to have a happy, prosperous and safe community. To be transparent in communication, build resiliency through sustainable actions and bring balance by making common sense decisions.
Visit Alex Zaichuk for more information.
All candidates have been invited to participate in the Erin Chamber of Commerce All Candidates Event on September 22, 2026, where they will respond to questions submitted by members of the community in advance of the event.
To ensure a fair and organized format, questions will not be accepted from the floor during the event.
Please note: This event is now over. Please visit Erin Chamber of Commerce – YouTube to view the recording.
We know there were more community questions submitted than can be addressed during the time available. Following the event, all candidates will receive the full list of submitted questions, including those not asked during the event, and have been encouraged to respond to them through their own platforms.
We encourage residents to continue following the candidates and their individual platforms to learn more about their positions ahead of the 2026 Municipal Election.
September 22, 2026
Watch the Erin Chamber of Commerce All Candidates Event recording on our YouTube channel.
Watch Live on YouTubeThis non-partisan public forum gives residents the opportunity to hear directly from Mayoral, Councillor, County Councillor, and School Board Trustee candidates.
