An elementary school teacher is looking to join Chatham-Kent's (CK) next municipal council.
Lauren Aziz is running to be the lone Ward 3 councillor, representing people in communities like Thamesville and Bothwell.
She lives in the small community of Muirkirk, which is in Ward 2, but chose to run in Ward 3 as that was her previous Ward before the boundaries were changed.
Aziz told CK News Today she wanted to run after getting frustrated when her representative missed an important council meeting.
"I want someone to show up for us, and I want our voices to be heard and respected," she explained.
If elected, her main priority would be ensuring rural residents have the same access to municipal services as people in Chatham. She specifically mentioned how it's easier for Chatham kids to access places like libraries.
"I want to make sure our children have the same accessibility as children who live in Chatham," added Aziz.
When asked why people should vote for her, she explained that one promise she can make is that she won't be a politician who's barely seen or heard from.
"When I commit to something, I'm all in. I'll be there for every council meeting, I'll answer emails of any concerns or anything that's needed," she said.
CK's election will be on October 26, 2026.
