Election Day in Chatham-Kent was on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026.
The Sydenham Current has sent a series of questions to all 14 elected Councillors across Chatham-Kent, along with the newly elected mayor. Coverage will be rolling out over the next couple of weeks.
Our next feature is Emery Huszka, who will begin his first term serving on Chatham-Kent Council, representing Ward 3 – North East Kent.
Huszka topped the polls, gathering 1,052 votes.
Below are the questions we sent each Councillor-elect and their responses:
Ward 3 – North East Kent: Emery Huszka
1. Election night and the road ahead: You’ve just been elected, and the community has placed its trust in you to represent them for the 2026-2030 Council term. What was election night like for you? What emotions and thoughts were going through your mind as the results came in? Now that the election is behind you, what’s the first order of business as a newly elected or returning Councillor?
“Election night this year was surreal. It was a humbling result as 46% of the electorate put their vote beside my name in Ward 3. I have always believed that municipal politics are personal politics lead by civic patriotism. You aren’t running on an ideology or for a political party. That’s your family name on the piece of paper, and it is you that is on the political menu. I have always looked at this as a job interview for a task that everyone gets a say as to whether you’re the right fit. We had 100+ people out on Monday night at the Sertoma Hall in Thamesville comprised of friends, family and so many community leaders. That support more than the election numbers was really the goose bump feeling that lasted all night long. Then it hit me; over 30 municipal representatives once collectively used to cover what now only one Emery is going to represent. Wow! My only regret was that my dad and my grandparents weren’t alive to see the night unfold with me.”
“The first order of business for my new role isn’t dramatic, it’s simply to read and learn all the pieces required of me, including legal material that only the prior council was privy to. During my campaign I was adamant that we needed a reset in Chatham Kent starting with a return to real communications with our ratepayers. I support a format such as an official committee of council in every ward. We already pay for the councillor, mayor and staff and we own many municipal buildings. There’s really no good reason that we can’t, a couple times a year, officially meet in each ward with our ratepayers to highlight local budget expenditures, planned projects, concerns and most importantly hear and record points from our residents. Our feedback on experiences with fees, services, ideas and concerns will only help council to make better decisions while highlighting how administration is performing, thus where change is required. If every ward report shows a similar concern, then that is a red flag for a systemic fix being called for by our public. I am also extending that need for better communications to our neighbours throughout Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex and Essex. Chatham-Kent is not an island and we are stronger if we embrace a regional approach to prosperity. We must be prepared to speak with people. The big ticket political issues are well known and will be addressed soon.”
2. A new Council structure: This was the first municipal election in Chatham-Kent with a reduced number of Councillors and adjusted ward boundaries. How do you feel these changes impacted the 2026 election, and what impact do you anticipate they will have on how Council operates and represents residents moving forward?
“The new wards were an eye opener. They are artificial in that there isn’t a central town of common rally point for all of us in ward 3. There isn’t a single identified postal route, a stand alone Ward 3 community newspaper that addresses their specific needs, a single radio channel etc., so direct communication is a huge issue. I want every resident to know that whether you’re in Harwich, tucked into the corners of Mosa or Rutherford or anywhere in between, you are gonna be heard. I will work for the whole of Chatham Kent, but I will also dance with the one who brought me to the party. This chair I now sit in belongs to the people of Ward 3.”
3. Working with the new Mayor: Michael Bondy has been elected Mayor of Chatham-Kent. What are your thoughts on the new Mayor, and what will your approach be to working with Mayor Bondy to effectively represent not only your ward, but the municipality as a whole?
“As to our new Mayor Michael Bondy, I have openly supported his goal to lead our community from day one! He has been responsive to our community in the past and when I insisted that agriculture was critical to the future economic well being of Chatham Kent, he didn’t hesitate to join me for a day long immersion at the Woodstock farm show, and multiple trips to local farms. For a city guy, he has his eyes wide open regarding our agricultural needs as farmers and businesses, but more importantly, he truly sees the untapped potential that we do. I can’t wait to join this team of positive people and the needed changes possible with his leadership; I intend to support a responsible agenda.”
4. Priorities, opportunities and challenges: Throughout the election campaign, candidates discussed a variety of issues and priorities facing Chatham-Kent. As the new Council begins its term, what are your top priorities? What do you see as the biggest opportunity for this term of Council, and conversely, what do you anticipate will be its biggest challenge?
“Next is the real job; we need to get our spending priorities under control so that our expenditures can reflect today’s realities of so many homes and businesses. Cumulative tax burden is a terrible thing for most people and we need to be aware of this daily. I am not opposed to spending money, but we owe ourselves a critical look at our spending to find waste, duplication and insist that value spending must form the foundation of our decisions. There are must items, should items, community priorities and items everybody wants as long as somebody else pays for it. How we look at our budget needs to evolve. On my farm, I need to understand my cost of production and even if I may really want something, it just can’t always happen if it doesn’t pencil. If a public dollar is spent, it is now fair game for review.”
5. Life outside of Council: Outside of your elected position, what professional, personal or community experience do you bring to your role as Municipal Councillor? How do you intend to balance your responsibilities as a Councillor with your other professional and personal commitments?
“With a reported high % of Chatham’s Kent’s economic activity being derived from agriculture, I take my role as I believe the only farmer on Chatham Kent Council to heart. I will do my best to help all of our strong farming partners to inform council and administration of their value, needs and potential for our greater good. I believe that I have my own farm right sized, on a proper rotation to manage my work requirements, my Maizex seed dealership demands, our apartment business, and my commitments to my local service clubs in which I belong all in hand. My ability to do a good job is predicated on the many community leaders who volunteer their wisdom daily. With good people to draw on and listen to, I am confident that our community voice can be heard. Thank you to all who supported me for this role, and for the ones that didn’t know me well enough or supported others, I will work just as hard to be a good councillor.”
