Just one day after formally entering the 2026 mayoral race, Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland made another significant political decision — giving up the Strong Mayor Powers that had provided his office with enhanced authority at Town Hall.
Cleveland says the decision was about fairness.
Speaking with Today’s Northumberland, Cleveland said he believes delegating the powers was the appropriate thing to do as Cobourg enters an election period.
“I felt it both fair and reasonable to delegate the Strong Mayor Powers to the CAO and to council as allowed under provincial law,” Cleveland said. “It’s both fair and, I would say, required. Full stop.”
The decision was announced in a late-night email sent to Today’s Northumberland at approximately 11:20 p.m. Tuesday.
In a statement dated August 11, Cleveland said the delegation became effective at 5 p.m. that day.
“As of 5:00pm today, I have formally delegated all provincially conferred Strong Mayor Powers to the CAO and Council that can be under current provincial legislation.”
Cleveland formally submitted his nomination for a second term as Mayor on Monday, August 10.
The timing of the two announcements — entering the election and then surrendering his enhanced mayoral powers — is not lost on Cleveland.
He said the election cycle was a major factor in his decision.
“We’re heading into an election cycle and I felt it both fair and reasonable to delegate the Strong Mayor Powers to the CAO and to council as allowed under provincial law,” he said.
Under the provincial legislation, Cleveland explained, certain Strong Mayor Powers can be delegated.
He said two of the powers can be delegated to the Chief Administrative Officer, while another can be delegated to council.
“The reality is we want to make sure the corporation functions through an election cycle as best as it can,” Cleveland said. “And this decision was both the fair and appropriate one.”
Cleveland stressed that the powers are not something created by the Town of Cobourg.
“Remember, this is all provincially decided,” he said.
Under Ontario’s Strong Mayor legislation, municipalities designated by the province are given additional powers to their mayors, including specific authority over areas such as budgets, council appointments and certain municipal decisions.
Cleveland said he could have retained those powers while campaigning for re-election, but believed doing so would not be the fairest approach.
“I think it’s important one and I think it’s the fairest way to enter an election period,” he said.
The Mayor also indicated there were other considerations surrounding the decision, including the implications of entering what he described as an election cycle and the municipality’s ability to continue operating effectively.
But he declined to get into the specifics of issues such as “lame duck” provisions.
Instead, Cleveland kept returning to one central point.
Fairness.
“It’s a decision I made and I think it’s an important one,” he said.
The move means Cleveland will campaign for a second term without exercising the Strong Mayor Powers personally during the election period, with the delegated authorities now resting with the CAO and council where permitted by provincial legislation.
For a mayor seeking another term, it is an unusual political decision.
Cleveland, however, appears comfortable with it.
“I felt it both fair and reasonable,” he said.
And with the 2026 municipal election underway after August 21, Cleveland is making it clear that his decision was intended to separate the powers of the mayor’s office from his campaign for another term.
“It’s the fairest way to enter an election period,” he said.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
