Aaron Albano View candidate
Campaign email: aaronalbano.welland@gmail.com. Mark Dzugan View candidate The Pointer reports council service from 2000 to 2010. Official results confirm a Ward 5 candidacy in 2022.
The Pointer reports prior council service from 2000 to 2010.
Contested Ward 5 in 2022; certified to run there again in 2026. Campaign: 905-788-1306 · mdzugan@cogeco.ca. Michelle Febers View candidate
Campaign: 905-531-3393 · wmicky6@hotmail.com. Connie McCutcheon View candidate
Born in Welland, raised her family here and has lived in urban and rural parts of Ward 5. Her campaign emphasizes the needs of established neighbourhoods, growing communities and rural areas within the ward.
More than 30 years working with municipalities in Ontario and across Canada on service improvement, accountability and transparency. Member of the City’s Heritage Advisory Committee. Serves on the Heritage Advisory Committee, whose listed appointments run until November 14, 2026. She calls for residents to be informed early and heard respectfully during decision-making. She proposes testing major spending for need, affordability and benefit to residents. She proposes balancing development with protection of Welland’s quality of life. Her proposed spending test considers need, affordability and benefit to residents.
Campaign: conniemccutcheon.com · conniemccutcheonward5@gmail.com. Luca Mele View candidate Ran in Thornhill in the 2025 Ontario election; his candidate-submitted profile identifies his affiliation as New Blue. New Blue candidate in Vaughan–Woodbridge in 2022; identified himself as a New Blue candidate in Thornhill in 2025.
More than 15 years of community organizing, including food and clothing drives, shelter support and charity fundraising tours across Canada.
Coordinates community round tables and outreach for unhoused people. Stated approach to leadership: showing up, listening and working with residents. His campaign describes a platform built with community input. He proposes more efficient transit routes and improved public-safety measures. He proposes updating parking, property-standards and zoning bylaws. He advocates expanded healthcare and diagnostic services in Welland. He commits to monthly community meetings shaped by residents’ ideas. He proposes balancing compassion, safety and neighbourhood concerns in responses to homelessness.
New Blue candidate in Vaughan–Woodbridge in 2022; his candidate-submitted 2025 Thornhill profile also identifies New Blue affiliation. Placed fifth of six candidates in Thornhill in 2025, with 523 votes — 1.47% of valid votes. Campaign: lucamele.ca · votemele@gmail.com. Claudette Richard View candidate Appointed to Ward 5 in September 2017; served in the 2018–2022 term and was re-elected in 2022. Lifelong Welland resident. Ward 5 councillor for the 2022–2026 term. More than 40 years of management experience. Founding-team and management work at both Niagara casinos before retirement. Appointed as a Ward 5 councillor in September 2017; served in the 2018–2022 term and was re-elected in 2022. Seven years as Welland Figure Skating Club president, including work organizing Learn to Skate programs. Involvement with the Welland Sports Council, Welland Recreation, Rose Festival and United Way.
The Integrity Commissioner found no Code breach in the joint complaint about recount-related votes, in the report published in August 2023. That finding concerns this complaint only.
Served in the 2018–2022 council term and was re-elected in 2022, following her 2017 appointment. Campaign: 905-735-7543 · crichard17@cogeco.ca. City office: claudette.richard@welland.ca. 
