Hamilton’s municipal election will be held on Oct. 26, 2026, and nine candidates are registered to run for Ward 2 City Councillor in Downtown Hamilton: Eisham Abdulkarim, Rodney Elesie, Daniel Greene, Bill Houston, Cameron Kroetsch, Brian Lewis, Kelly Oucharek, Tony Sciara, and Bernard Tompkins.
CAMERON KROETSCH (INCUMBENT)
Campaign Email: cameron@cameronforward2.ca
Campaign Website: www.cameronforward2.ca
Kroetsch, the former president of Guelph’s largest labour union and an LGBT rights activist, moved to Hamilton in 2014.
He finished second in the 2018 municipal election before being elected to City Council in 2022.
During this term of Council, Kroetsch voted in favour of the city’s new hire COVID vaccination mandate, increasing Hamilton’s property taxes by 5.85 per cent in 2023, implementing the rain tax stormwater fee program, collecting the Vacant Unit Tax, increasing property taxes by 5.79 per cent in 2024, keeping the city poet program in 2025 amid a 5.6 per cent property tax increase, and pausing AI data centre applications for one year.
He voted against increasing the Hamilton Police Service budget in 2023 and 2024.
Kroetsch also brought forward a motion during the 2025 budget process to give police zero new funding.
The motion has been labelled a “defund the police” motion since Hamilton Police required an increase of 4.2 per cent to maintain existing services. The motion failed in a 2-14 vote.
More details on his voting record can be viewed on a new website called www.hamiltoncouncilwatch.ca.
EISHAM ABDULKARIM
Campaign Email: vote.ward2@gmail.com
Campaign Website: www.eishamforward2.ca
Abdulkarim describes himself as a former constituency assistant and former vice-chair of Hamilton’s Immigrants and Refugees Advisory Committee.
He lists his three main priorities as safety and community well-being, affordability, and accountability.
RODNEY ELESIE
Campaign Email: relesie50@gmail.com
Campaign Website: Not Available at Publish Date
The Hamilton Independent was unable to find further information about the candidate.
DANIEL GREENE
Campaign Email: Not Available at Publish Date
Campaign Website: Not Available at Publish Date
Daniel Greene is active on Facebook, posting that he hopes “to try and stop the spending of [residents’] tax dollars for foolish and useless projects.”
BILL HOUSTON
Campaign Email: houstonwilliam20@gmail.com
Campaign Website: Not Available at Publish Date
The Hamilton Independent was unable to find further information about the candidate.
BRIAN LEWIS
Campaign Email: brian@brianlewis.ca
Campaign Website: www.brianlewis.ca
Brian Lewis’ social media says that he lives in Ward 14 (West Mountain), but his website says that he was born and raised in Hamilton’s North End.
He used to work in logistics and was reportedly elected as a Councillor-at-Large with the Clearwater Council of the Metis Nation of Ontario.
In 2022, he ran in Ward 14, finishing fourth out of seven candidates with 12.09 per cent of the vote (1,108 votes).
His website says he is committed to “building a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant downtown while ensuring taxpayers receive value for their money.”
KELLY OUCHAREK
Campaign Email: kelly@kellyoucharek.ca
Campaign Website: www.kellyoucharek.ca
Kelly Oucharek describes herself as a “wife, mother of four, Registered Nurse, and community advocate.”
She was raised in the Jamesville geared-to-income housing in Ward 2.
She says she is a longtime member of James North Baptist Church and that her community involvement includes volunteering as a youth leader, serving on school parent councils, and coaching sports.
Oucharek has delegated to Hamilton City Council over the past few months, including speaking against drug use at Central Library.
She lists her priorities as public safety, addressing homelessness and addiction, reliable infrastructure, and affordability and fiscal responsibility.
TONY SCIARA
Campaign Email: bringhamiltonback@gmail.com
Campaign Website: www.hamiltonforward.com
Tony Sciara owns and operates a mental health facility. His website lists his priorities as homelessness, building a safer Ward 2, and affordability.
BERNARD TOMPKINS
Campaign Email: bernard@bernardforward2.ca
Campaign Website: www.bernardforward2.ca
Tompkins describes himself as a “lifelong Ward 2 resident, skilled trades leader, and father of two.”
Tompkins is also a REALTOR with eXp Realty.
His website says he is running to improve public health and safety, business and development, and communication, accountability, and efficiency.
ELECTORAL HISTORY
2010 Election: Jason Farr was elected for the first time in a 20-candidate race after incumbent Councillor Bob Bratina ran for mayor. Farr was elected with 20.97 per cent of the vote (1,607 votes) with Matt Jelly finishing second.
2014 Election: Jason Farr was elected with 66.35 per cent of the vote (4,078 votes) in a six-candidate race.
2018 Election: Jason Farr was elected a third time with 46.86 per cent of the vote (3,162 votes) in an eight-candidate race, with Cameron Kroetsch coming second with 29.99 per cent (2,024 votes).
2022 Election: Cameron Kroetsch was elected for the first time with 49.25 per cent of the vote (3,619 votes) in a five-candidate race, with Jason Farr coming second with 32.83 per cent (2,412 votes).
WARD DESCRIPTION
As of the 2021 census, the ward had 37,080 residents.
Ward 2 is Downtown Hamilton and includes neighbourhoods such as Beasley, Central, Corktown, Durand, and the North End.
It is bordered by the Escarpment to the south, Hamilton Harbour to the north, Queen Street to the west, and Wellington Street North to the east.
Ward 2 is home to City Hall, Jackson Square, Gore Park, TD Coliseum, the Hamilton Farmer’s Market, St. Joseph’s Hospital (Charlton Campus), the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Bayfront Park, and Pier 4 Park.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
