City of Port Alberni · 2026 BC General Local Elections

Mayor

1 seat3 declared candidatesNominations close Fri, Sep 11, 4 pm

Incumbent Mayor of Port Alberni, first elected mayor in 2018 and re-elected in 2022 (2,524 votes to 2,358). Previously served as a city councillor.

Verified Sep 8· Source: official candidate list

Todd Patola Declared

Current city councillor, elected in 2022 (1,531 votes). Also ran for council in 2018. Crown prosecutor at the Port Alberni courthouse since 2011; previously 15 years in private practice.

Verified Sep 8· Source: official candidate list

Don Tecson Declared

Declared candidate, September 2026. Background will be added when candidate information is published.

Background not yet verified· Source: official candidate list

Candidates are listed alphabetically by surname with identical fields. Backgrounds contain verified public facts only; candidate-written statements are labelled as such. Report an error · Missing candidate? Tell us.

What the Mayor does

Port Alberni's Mayor is one of seven votes on City Council — the Mayor's vote counts the same as any councillor's. What sets the job apart is a set of extra duties under BC's Community Charter (s.116):

Chairs council meetings and keeps them running under the procedure bylaw
Is the City's official spokesperson and representative at civic, regional and provincial events
Recommends bylaws, resolutions and other measures to council
Can suspend a municipal officer or employee, subject to council's review
Sits on the ACRD Board as one of Port Alberni's appointed municipal directors

The Mayor does not run City Hall day to day — that is the Chief Administrative Officer, who reports to council as a whole. The Mayor cannot set the budget, pass a bylaw or approve a development alone; every one of those decisions is a council vote.

Where to vote

Advance · Oct 7 & Oct 14
Echo Centre, Dogwood Room
4255 Wallace Street, Port Alberni · 8:00 am–8:00 pm

General Voting Day · Oct 17
Echo Centre, Cedar Room
4255 Wallace Street, Port Alberni · 8:00 am–8:00 pm

How to vote in Port Alberni

Other races hereCouncillor

This list can change until nominations close on Fri, Sep 11 and the withdrawal deadline passes. Each candidate's verification date is shown on their card.