A farmer in the Wheatley area is running in the upcoming Chatham-Kent (CK) election.
Gerhard Taves is looking to be one of two Ward 1 councillors. The main communities in the Ward are Wheatley and Tilbury, though changes to boundaries mean that communities like North Buxton and South Buxton are now included.
Taves told CK News he wants to ensure that Wheatley has at least one representative on council.
"It's very easy for Chatham-Kent to forget we're there, at least it feels like it from our perspective," he said.
CK's current council has one representative, Lauren Anderson. The first time councillor is running to be the municipality's next mayor.
Taves previously considered running in the 2022 election but decided against it to spend more time with his son. Now that his son has graduated from high school, he has decided to put his name forward.
His main priorities are ensuring the agriculture sector is properly supported and that all rural communities are treated fairly.
When voters head to the polls, Taves explained that they should consider him, as he won't ignore them.
"People can expect me to listen and hear their concerns when they talk to me, when they call me, and know that I'm thinking of their conversations when I'm sitting at the table," he added.
CK's election is on October 26, 2026.
