Perth Deputy Mayor Ed McPherson has officially entered the race to become the town’s next mayor.
McPherson announced his campaign Thursday, saying conversations with residents over the past several weeks helped inform his decision to seek the mayor’s chair.
He says he has been listening to residents’ ideas, concerns and hopes for the community, and plans to release more details about his priorities and vision for Perth in the coming weeks.
McPherson was first elected as a councillor and was a candidate for deputy mayor in the 2018 municipal election. He defeated fellow councillor Jim Graff for the position and has served as deputy mayor since then.
He was acclaimed as deputy mayor again in 2022.
McPherson has also taken on the mayor’s responsibilities on an interim basis. In January 2024, council appointed him acting mayor while Mayor Judy Brown was on a temporary leave of absence. In February 2025, McPherson again assumed mayoral communication duties while Brown focused on her health.
Beyond his municipal role, McPherson has served as Perth’s representative on the Lanark County OPP Detachment Board and has been involved with various county committees.
The Town of Perth’s current unofficial list of candidates now includes McPherson among those seeking the mayor’s position. The other declared candidates are David Bird, Stephanie Drummond and Isabel Anne McRae.
The 2026 municipal election is set for Oct. 26. Perth voters will elect one mayor, one deputy mayor and five councillors.
