Before the Ballot- With Ward 9 Candidate Jonathan Stathakos

Welcome to this instalment of Before the Ballot featuring Ward 9 candidate Jonathan Stathakos.

What motivated you to run for council, and why do you believe now is the right time for new leadership in your ward?

Upper Stoney Creek is my home. I was born and raised here, by a single mother on a fixed income. Growing up in that household shaped everything I believe about affordability, opportunity, and what it means when hard work has to stretch every dollar.

Like a lot of my neighbours, I've watched our community grow tremendously over the past decade. But I've also watched our roads, our services, and our quality of life fall behind.

Every week I hear the same thing at the doors and at community events. Families are working harder than ever and still falling behind. Property taxes keep climbing. Auto theft and reckless driving have changed how people feel in their own neighbourhoods. The smell from GFL is disrupting daily life. And the LINC and Red Hill are jammed every morning and every night.

It doesn't have to be this way. 

Hundreds of residents have encouraged me to run, and since announcing, the response has been overwhelming. People are excited. They feel hopeful. They believe Ward 9 can do better, and they're ready for new leadership.

Ward 9 is the fastest-growing part of Hamilton, and we deserve a councillor who matches that energy, someone who shows up, listens, builds the relationships needed to actually deliver results, and brings modern solutions to today's challenges.

Better is possible. That's why I'm running.

Every ward has its own unique challenges. What do you believe are the top three issues facing residents in your ward today, and how would you address them?

My priorities are clear: Lower Taxes. Safer Streets. Reliable Roads. And running through every conversation I have in the community is GFL.

GFL. The odour from the GFL landfill has been disrupting daily life in Upper Stoney Creek for years. Families can't open their windows. Kids can't play in their backyards. Local businesses are losing customers. This isn't just an inconvenience, it's a quality-of-life crisis. The community deserves the same quality of life as the rest of Ward 9.

The community's ultimate goal is that GFL packs up and closes its doors. Until that day comes, residents deserve real, practical relief. That is why my plan focuses on what residents can actually feel and see and that starts with odour mitigation.

Lower Taxes. Property taxes have skyrocketed the past four years. Families and seniors on fixed incomes are being squeezed. I'll fight to keep property tax increases low, review City contracts for value, and demand that taxpayers get real return on every dollar.

Safer Streets. Auto theft on Times Square Boulevard, reckless driving on Highland Road and Tapleytown, violent crime making the news, families don't feel safe the way they used to. I'll advocate to the Police Chief and the Police Services Board for a substation in Upper Stoney Creek, and I'll push for traffic calming on Highland, Tapleytown, and Highbury where it's needed most.

Reliable Roads. Ward 9 is the fastest-growing community in Hamilton, but our roads haven't kept up. I'll advocate to the Province to uplift the LINC and Red Hill, the same way they took over the Gardiner and Don Valley Parkway in Toronto and advocate to widen the LINC and Red Hill to three lanes, and prioritize repaving the neighbourhood streets that have been deferred for years.

Municipal government often requires balancing competing interests and difficult budget decisions. How would you approach making tough decisions at City Hall?

I'm a small business owner and a public sector advisor. I've spent my career working inside government and running a business, and both teach you the same lesson. Every dollar matters, and every decision has consequences for real people.

My approach is straightforward.

I'm out in the community, I keep my ear to the ground. I stand by my principles, which are rooted in fighting for affordability, equality of opportunity, and public safety.

Before any vote, the question I'll ask is simple: how does this affect the families, seniors, and small businesses of Ward 9?

Their reality has to come first.

What experience, skills, or perspective do you bring that distinguishes you from other candidates seeking the same council seat?

Three things.

Deep roots. I was born and raised in Upper Stoney Creek. Janet Lee. Gatestone. Saltfleet. I built my career and my life here. I didn't discover Ward 9 at election time, this is the community I love and have been fighting for relentlessly for years.

Real experience inside government. As a public sector advisor, I've worked across every level of government. I know how decisions get made, how budgets move, and how to navigate the system to deliver projects on time and on budget.

Relationships that get things done. I have working relationships with our MPs, MPPs, and partners across every level of government. When Ward 9 needs to bring everyone to the table, those relationships are the difference between getting heard and getting ignored.

I'm also a small business owner, which means I understand firsthand the pressures families and local businesses face every day.

Ward 9 deserves a councillor who listens, fights to make sure our concerns are heard, and works with every level of government to deliver real results. I'm ready on day one to do that work.

What is the best way for voters to contact you and/or learn more about you?

The best place to start is my campaign website at votejonathan.ca, where voters can read about my plan for Ward 9, sign up for updates, volunteer, or contribute to the campaign.

I can also be reached directly at info@votejonathan.ca.

For day-to-day updates, voters can follow the campaign on Facebook, TikTok, & Instagram @JonathanStathakos and X (Twitter) @JonStathakos.

I keep my ear to the ground. I'm no stranger to this community, I'm a familiar face. Since the campaign kicked off, I've been at the doors almost every day, at community events, and at every forum I'm invited to.

If a resident wants to meet for coffee, share a concern, or invite me to their neighbourhood, the door is open. That's the job. I'm easy to reach and always willing to chat.

Best
Jonathan

Thank-you Jonathan for engaging with Hamiltonians in The Hamiltonian!