Biography: According to her website, Valerie Hogue has worked in “communications, education, strategy, and consulting”. She is the former vice president of Triathlon Ontario.

Platform: Hogue lists her priorities as public infrastructure, road safety, and responsible planning and spending by the City.

Biography: Matt Mahoney is the incumbent councillor for Ward 8. First elected in 2014, Mahoney was appointed deputy mayor in 2024. He is the chair of Mississauga’s General Committee and the Environmental Action Committee, and sits on the Peel Police Services Board.

Most recently, Mahoney has come under the spotlight for pushing for a pause on e-scooter rentals in Mississauga citing safety and enforcement concerns. The motion was narrowly defeated in council. He was recently part of negotiating a deal with the owners of the ward’s Ridgeway Plaza, a strip mall which has been criticized for its busy unsanctioned community gatherings; the deal included the installation of security cameras, speed bumps, access gates, and signs at local businesses’ expense.

Mahoney’s father Steve Mahoney held the council role from 1978 to 1987, before moving onto a career in provincial and federal politics. His mother Katie Mahoney held the seat from 1991 to 2014.

Platform: Mahoney’s platform mentions affordability, public safety, and advocating for seniors, with an emphasis on improving road safety through the Vision Zero program. He wants to invest in transit service and infrastructure.

Biography: Viktoria Manzar is a human resources professional who has worked with organizations in Canada, Europe, and the UAE. She has formerly volunteered with the Swiss Red Cross, according to her LinkedIn.

Platform: Manzar’s platform mentions safe streets, public accountability, and balancing support for businesses in Ridgeway Plaza with concerns raised by local residents.

Biography: Rahul Mehta is a local cycling and climate activist who has worked for Mississauga’s community cycling program, the Peel Multicultural Council, and Cycle Toronto. He received the 2025 Phil Green Recognition Award from the City of Mississauga for his work at the Peel Multicultural Council connecting newcomers with mentorship and cycling resources. He is opposed to plans to build a new data centre in Ward 8. He is endorsed by the Peel regional labour council.

Platform: On social media, Mehta says he will advocate for electoral reform and the creation of a neighbourhood improvement fund. He proposes doubling the city’s climate and forestry budget by increasing fines and corporate taxes. He is supportive of improved bike infrastructure.

Biography: Grzegorz Nowacki previously ran for council in Ward 8 in 2018. According to a short introduction he published at the time with the Peterborough Examiner, he has a background in computer science, information systems, and business administration.

Platform: In an interview with Modern Mississauga, Nowacki says that his priorities are lower property taxes, public safety, and reducing bureaucracy. He wants to create a business-friendly environment and build more affordable housing. He supports lowering fees for building permits.

Biography: Little information is available online about Tamer Elkateb. He is an engineer with a PhD from the University of Alberta, according to the Professional Engineers of Ontario directory.

Platform: Elkateb’s platform includes advocating for an independent financial oversight committee and the publication of quarterly public financial reports, and establishing standardized exams (a number of which already exist at the PDSB, including the province-wide EQAO evaluation). He mentions mental health and special education supports, a “zero tolerance” approach to bullying, and community engagement from parents.

Biography: Samantha Fung is a recent high school graduate from the United World College in the Netherlands. According to her LinkedIn, she is enrolled in law school at King’s College in London but presently works as a research assistant with the University Health Network. She founded Music for Every Child, a youth-led charity that connects special needs students with weekly group sessions of music therapy. In 2023, she was the recipient of a Diana Award for young changemakers. She has also been part of the Canadian Council of Young Feminists and the PDSB’s Mental Health Advisory Board.

Platform: Fung told Mississauga.com that she wants to create a safe learning environment for students, accommodate diverse learning needs, and foster community between parents, educators, and students.

Biography: Brad MacDonald has been the PDSB trustee for Ward 2 and 8 since 2003. In that time, he served on a number of committees including the Special Education Advisory Committee, Physical Planning and Building, and the Budget Development Committee.

He was chair of the PDSB in 2020, when the board was put under provincial supervision after a report regarding “serious concerns about anti-Black racism and systemic inequities; leadership and governance dysfunction; and unfair human resources practices within the board.” That year, MacDonald came under fire for calling the police during a board meeting about anti-Black racism that grew heated. It remained under supervision until early 2023 (that supervision is separate from the ongoing supervision by the province).

Platform: On his campaign website, MacDonald’s platform includes school safety, parental engagement, and responsible spending. He wants to advocate for an end to the provincial supervision of the PDSB, and advocates for a “fair share of funding” from the province. He also mentions smaller class sizes, and better facilities within schools.

Biography: Little information is available online about Michael Michalias. He has worked as a communications operator and alarm operator at the Toronto Police Services.

Platform: In a flyer posted to his Instagram, Michalias mentions putting students first, supporting teachers and staff, open communication, and accountability.

Biography: Lucita Gonsalves is a Zumba instructor and, according to LinkedIn, an autism spectrum disorder consultant. She is currently endorsed by the Peel Regional Labour Council and the Dufferin-Peel OECTA Elementary Unit (the union representing Catholic elementary teachers).

Platform: Gonsalves told Mississauga.com that she prioritizes safe, inclusive schools, preserving Catholic faith and identity across schools, and bringing more classroom resources. She also says she wants to listen to parents and be transparent with the board’s decision-making and spending.

Biography: Herman Viloria is the incumbent trustee for Wards 2 and 8. He has held office since 2022. Viloria says he’s held multiple staff roles within the DPCDSB, having been a principal, vice-principal, and teacher. During Viloria’s time as trustee, he spoke against having the Pride flag flown outdoors, saying in a 2024 meeting that while the flag is a “symbol of inclusion and acceptance for many, [it] also represents ideologies and practices that contradict Catholic doctrine.” In 2025, during a policy review committee meeting, Viloria voted against a motion amending the board’s flag policies to allow additional flags, like the Pride flag, to be flown at DPCDSB schools.

Platform: On his campaign website, Viloria says the current board is facing financial issues, claiming a collective bargaining agreement made 45 years ago “has developed into a huge financial burden.” Viloria also says he wishes to continue being a voice for the board of trustees with his experience.

Biography: Pierre Gregory has been a trustee for Conseil scolaire Viamonde since 2022, representing Hamilton-Wentworth, Halton, and Brant. He won by acclamation because he ran unopposed in that election.

Gregory has nearly 30 years of experience in education, including as a teacher at a French-language high school. He has previously worked at the Ministry of Education as part of the unit responsible for curriculum development in French-language schools in Ontario. As trustee, Gregory sat on the board’s Parents’ Participation Committee.

Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication.

Biography: Little information is available online about Mahmad Neezam Chutoo. On LinkedIn, he says he works in bilingual customer service at Aimia, a Toronto-based investment holding company.

Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication.

Biography: Jennifer Green Frank is running unopposed and therefore has already been elected by acclamation at the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. She is a registered immigration consultant with the immigration consulting firm Keith C.A. Frank & Associates. Green Frank is a citizen member of Mississauga’s Governance Committee and on the faculty at Ashton College, an online career college.

Platform: This candidate does not have a platform available online at the time of publication.