Brampton’s first mayoral candidate for 2022 is 23-year-old electrician Cody Vatcher

The first candidate registered to run for mayor in Brampton’s upcoming municipal election isn’t incumbent Patrick Brown, but a 23-year-old electrician.

Nominations opened on Monday (May 2) for candidates wanting to run in the election on Oct. 24. and, as of Wednesday morning, the only official mayoral hopeful is Cody Vatcher.

An electrician by trade and avid political watcher, Vatcher’s Facebook profile is full of posts about Brampton City Hall including the dismissal of the city’s integrity commissioner, severance payments made to former city managers, and councillors protesting council meetings.

With a bold campaign slogan of “Vote for me. I have no experience,” Vatcher is counting on his inexperience in the political arena as a blessing and not a curse.

“And it’s true – I have no experience in wasting taxpayers’ money, I have no experience at creating scandal and I have no experience at increasing taxes,” he told insauga.com.

Vatcher said he was put on a path into politics due to a meeting with late Ontario Premier Bill Davis, also known affectionately as “Brampton Billy.”

“(Davis) was a moderate and a centrist, and he told me one day, I could be prime minister,” Vatcher said.

The electrician-turned-mayoral candidate says he was in the foster system as a child and “knows the value of a strong safety net.”

While he may be young, Vatcher says he’s the right candidate to bring “new and fresh leadership” to Brampton with plans to cut wasteful spending, cut the size of Brampton City Council and reduce taxes if elected.

Vatcher said while some may doubt his resolve to reduce the size of council, he Channelled late prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau in his hypothetical response – “Just watch me,” he said.

The young mayoral hopeful said he’s not concerned with going up against incumbent Mayor Patrick Brown, as the mayor is currently campaigning for leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada – a race Vatcher says he believes Brown will win.

“I’m not running to defeat Mayor Patrick Brown, I’m running to replace him,” Vatcher said.

Brown has been at odds with political rival Pierre Poilievre since entering the CPC leadership race.

According to a recent Leger poll, just 4 per cent of respondents felt Brown “would make the best leader for the Conservative Party ” while Poilievre came in with 19 per cent.

Potential candidates have until Aug. 19 to file their nominations to run for City Council, Regional Council, Mayor and School Board Trustee.

Nomination fees are $200 if running for Mayor and $100 for all other positions.

Incumbent Regional Ward 7 and 8 Coun. Pat Fortini is the only currently serving member of council registered to run, while Gurpartap Singh Toor is challenging Regional Coun. Gurpreet Dhillon for Wards 9 and 10.

All nomination documents must be filed by appointment with the City Clerk’s Office, and appointments may be booked by calling 905-874-2000 or online at www.brampton.ca/skiptheline.