2026 Oxford County Municipal Election
East Zorra-Tavistock — Ward 3 Councillor
We asked. Sheri Karelsen answered. You decide.
Answers are published as submitted.
I. Candidate & Municipal Governance
1. Candidate Introduction
Please introduce yourself to the residents of Oxford County. Briefly tell us why you are running for municipal office, what principles or values would guide you as an elected official, and what you believe is the most important issue facing the municipality you are seeking to represent. What would you do about it?
I have lived in Ward 3 since 2004 with my husband and two children. I am a small business owner, and as a small business owner, getting involved in my community and finding ways to contribute and connect with others is what makes living in a small rural area so special. I think Oxford County is facing a lot of important milestones in the next 4 years, the secondary plan and the 20-to-30-year official plan for the County which will see unprecedented growth. While growth is necessary, we also need to be careful considering the effect that growth has on our existing services.
2. Local vs. Provincial Authority
Municipalities are increasingly affected by decisions, policies and requirements established by the provincial government. What degree of local discretion do you believe municipalities should have when provincial direction affects decisions within municipal jurisdiction? When, if ever, should a municipality challenge or oppose provincial direction? Please explain.
Under the Canadian Constitution municipalities are entities of the province, the government of Ontario determines their powers, responsibilities and how they are funded. The municipality should always advocate for the ratepayers against any policies or decisions that are detrimental to the community.
3. Accountability & Access
Once elected, how will you maintain open communication and accountability with your constituents? What level of access should residents have to you, and what responsibility do you have to explain and defend your decisions and votes, particularly when constituents disagree with them?
Once elected, I will advocate for all council votes to be recorded. A councilor should always be available by phone or email to address the concerns of the community they represent, and they should be prepared to respectfully explain and defend their decisions whether a constituent agrees or disagrees.
4. Staff vs. Elected Council
What do you believe is the proper division of responsibility between municipal staff and elected council? What decisions should be made by staff, what decisions should be made by council, and what responsibility should elected officials retain for decisions recommended or implemented by staff?
I think staff should be able to do their job as stated in their job descriptions without outside interference. I don’t think I am familiar enough with the internal politics of the office to give an informed answer.
5. Candidate Social-Media History
Have you ever deleted, hidden or substantially altered past social-media posts or other publicly available online content because you believed it might affect how voters viewed you or your candidacy? If so, what did you change and why?
No – I also don’t think social media is the proper avenue for debating community issues.
II. Taxes, Growth & Development
6. Taxes & Services
What annual municipal property-tax increase do you consider reasonable over the next four years? If maintaining existing services would require an increase above that level, what principles would you use to determine which services or expenditures should be reduced, delayed or eliminated instead? Please explain.
This is a difficult question to answer but what I can say is that since 2022-26 we have seen collective tax increases to ratepayers of 22.71% and for most people that is a burden that has to be looked at carefully. We need to find ways to reduce these increases and still deliver the core services ratepayers expect while showing that the money is respected with financial discipline.
7. Population Growth & Agricultural Land
Oxford County’s current planning projections anticipate substantial population growth over the coming decades, creating increasing pressure on agricultural land. Should Oxford plan to accommodate the projected level of growth, or should the County and its municipalities seek to influence the rate and/or location of future growth? When development competes with agricultural and food-production uses, should agricultural land and food production receive priority? What principles should guide these decisions? Please explain.
Agricultural land and food production should always receive priority. We can still grow the county without developing prime agricultural land by prioritizing development on less productive or already-developed land.
III. Energy & Major Development
8. Wind & Utility-Scale Solar
What is your position on industrial wind turbine and utility-scale solar developments in Oxford County? If your municipality were asked to determine whether it should be a willing or unwilling host for a large-scale wind or solar project, how would you vote, and what factors would guide your decision? Please explain.
In my research on this topic, I found that EZT is an unwilling host, and I support that decision. These projects are typically heavily subsidized by the government and never benefit the community as a whole.
9. Data Centres
What is your position on approving data centres in Oxford County? Under what circumstances, if any, would you support one? How should council weigh its potential economic benefits against demands on electricity, water, land and other municipal infrastructure? Please explain.
I am not in favor of bringing Data centers to Oxford, they require too much land and resources with very little upside.
IV. Property Rights, Environment & Climate
10. Property Rights & Environmental Regulation
What principles should determine the balance between private property rights and municipal environmental regulation? What limits, if any, should municipalities place on environmental restrictions affecting the use of privately owned rural land? Please explain.
I don’t feel like I have enough information to adequately answer this question. I don’t believe in sweeping restrictions or regulations, but we also can’t allow environmental contamination. Being good stewards of the land we have been blessed with is important.
11. Climate Change & CO₂
What role, if any, do you believe carbon dioxide emissions play in climate change? What responsibility, if any, should municipal government have for addressing climate-related issues, and should municipal taxpayers fund those efforts? Please explain.
My job if chosen to represent Ward 3 is to deliver core services to ratepayers in a fiscally responsible manner. We need to stay within our area of control and meet the expectations of the residents.
V. Municipal Policy & Public Institutions
12. DEI, Hiring & Public Services
When municipal government makes decisions about hiring employees or providing services, what role, if any, should a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, disability, newcomer status or other demographic characteristics play? Do you support mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion training for municipal employees, and should municipal taxpayers fund it? Please explain.
I believe we need to stay focused on merit-based hiring. Any position needed to be filled should be given to the individual who most meets the qualifications of the position.
13. International Policy Frameworks
What role, if any, should international policy frameworks such as the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals play in municipal decision-making? If municipal policies are influenced by such frameworks, what responsibility does council have to ensure that those decisions remain transparent and accountable to local residents? Please explain.
International policy has no place in municipal governments; local governments are primarily responsible for addressing priorities in their communities, like public services, infrastructure, transportation, housing, etc.
VI. Public Safety, Privacy & Emergency Powers
14. Flock Cameras & Surveillance
What is your position on the use of Flock cameras and other automated licence-plate recognition (ALPR) or camera-based surveillance systems by municipalities for public safety? What limits, if any, should apply to their use, and how should council balance public safety with residents’ privacy? Please explain.
Unfortunately, we live in a world of mass surveillance; I am not for mass surveillance, with the exception of specific crime/safety issues requiring some sort of camera surveillance.
15. Public-Health Emergency Powers
If another public-health emergency occurred, what restrictions, if any, should a municipality be able to impose on access to municipal buildings, facilities, programs or community activities? What role should elected council have in approving or overseeing such restrictions, and what limits should apply to municipal authority during an emergency? Please explain.
I would choose the least restrictive effective measure rather than imposing broader restrictions by default.
Questionnaire sent: September 8, 2026
Response received: September 24, 2026
← Back to the 2026 Oxford County Municipal Election
Leave a Reply