Pickering mayoral race features plenty of intrigue

Lisa Robinson, a controversial figure during her time on city council, went up against Kevin Ashe

Published Oct 26, 2026  •  2 minute read

Screenshot of Lisa Robinson from X video. Photo by @LifelibertyLisa /X

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Kevin Ashe was facing off against Lisa Robinson for the seat as mayor in Pickering on Monday night. 

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Robinson was a controversial figure during her time on city council. She was investigated nine times by the city’s integrity commissioner since 2023. 

Ashe was first elected to the position of mayor in the 2022 municipal election with 39% of the total vote, or 7,867 votes. 

During this campaign for mayor, Ashe ran on a multi-phased platform to reduce taxes, curb the affordability issue, support seniors, while creating local jobs. 

Of note, Ashe’s father, George, was Pickering’s first mayor in 1973. He served the office of mayor until 1977.  

Whitby

Elizabeth Roy was running for her second term as mayor in Whitby.  

Some of Roy’s priorities include building an affordable and safe community for all residents.   

Roy was elected to the mayor’s chair after the 2022 municipal election with 12,654 votes, or 54% of eligible voters. 

Her main opponent was former councillor Chris Leahy. 

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Roy had one significant professional difference of opinion earlier this year when Leahy filed an Ontario Human Rights Commission complaint against the mayor. The case was dismissed on Sept. 28.  

Oshawa

Tito-Dante Marimpietri, Jim Lee and Dave Westlake were the top odds-on favourites heading into election night on Oshawa. 

Marimpietri served as chair of the city’s economic and development services committee. The longtime Oshawa resident ran on a platform of creating jobs and attracting outside investment into Oshawa’s assets, including its air and seaports, health care network and post-secondary institutions.  Marimpietri was first elected to city council in 2003, when he was 23 years old. 

At the insistence of residents in Oshawa, Lee ran for mayor.

Lee’s campaign focused on affordability and community safety, particularly in the downtown area. Lee said the city should be targeting dealers that enable rampant drug use in the downtown core. 

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Challenger Dave Westlake has a solid business background and is prepared to call a state of emergency if elected. 

Dan Carter announced earlier this year that he would not be seeking a third term as mayor. 

Around the region (unofficial results) 

In Ajax, first-timer Marilyn Crawford was being declared as the mayor-elect with 19,763 votes or 61% of the 33,511 who voted; in the Municipality of Clarington, Tom Dingwall defeated incumbent Adrian Foster with 15,273 votes, equating to 53.1% of the total 29,520 voters; In Uxbridge, Dave Barton earned his third term as mayor with 5,881 votes (64.2%) of the 9,268 that voted. 

Results for the Township of Brock, with Michael Jubb (incumbent) going up against Brenda Thyne were not available at press time and the Township of Scugog race incumbent Wilma Wotten, Mike Coll, Ian McDougall, David Whitfield, Charles Deane and Jack Doak were unavailable.  

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