Leanne Caron holds the narrowest lead among six certified candidates for Guelph's open mayoral seat on October 26, following incumbent Cam Guthrie's decision not to seek a fourth term. As the longest-serving city councillor with nearly two decades on council and provincial municipal association ties, Caron emphasizes housing affordability, infrastructure, and steady governance in her platform. Ken Yee Chew, another sitting councillor, positions himself as an alternative focused on addressing perceived leadership gaps and fiscal pressures. The remaining contenders—John Edward Krusky, Ryan Meunier, Evaristo Ramos Jr., and Rajee Sinha—bring varied profiles but trail in early positioning. With nominations closed in August and advance voting set for mid-October, traders appear to weigh incumbency-like experience and name recognition most heavily in the still-fluid race.