In his annual state of the city address, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley encouraged residents to consider running in this year's municipal election.
The 2026 election is slated to take place in October.
Bradley said this current council will likely step away from city hall matters in June or July for the campaign period.
Over the years, Bradley said he's spoken with candidates about the realities of being on council and the challenges of social media.
"The world has changed and is much more combative, particularly for women candidates," he said. "But we need good people to run so the vacuum isn't filled by people who shouldn't be at the council chamber."
Bradley has yet to announce if he plans to seek re-election.
He was first elected mayor in 1988 and is Ontario's second longest-serving mayor.
Given the current "bully culture," Bradley said he wouldn't be surprised if every municipal election in Ontario is "difficult."
"Getting good people to run and then the climate we're in... we cannot sustain it when you have meetings being adjourned because of the behaviour -- not of the public but because of the councillors," Bradley said. "Not just here, I believe Newmarket is another example and there are some others across the province -- and it's not just councils, it's also school boards."
Bradley said ideally, if someone is seriously damaging to a community or council, there should be an option to have them removed through a judicial process. Currently, council can vote to reprimand a member based on recommendations from the integrity commissioner or they can receive and file the report.
Bradley was the guest speaker at the Kiwanis Club of Sarnia-Lambton Golden K meeting, held on Tuesday, January 6.
Looking ahead to 2026, Bradley said he's looking forward to an upcoming funding announcement to benefit the Wellington Street expansion project. He's also hoping to see stronger support for the research park from the county during budget deliberations.
During his address, Bradley also spoke about concerns regarding a recent Minister's Zoning Order, which is expected to remain a major area of concern over the coming months.
