{"id":895037,"date":"2026-09-14T05:16:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T05:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/895037\/"},"modified":"2026-09-14T05:16:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T05:16:12","slug":"parrish-crombie-kick-off-mississauga-mayoral-campaign-as-race-for-city-hall-heats-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/895037\/","title":{"rendered":"Parrish, Crombie kick off Mississauga mayoral campaign as race for city hall heats up"},"content":{"rendered":"

The race for the top job at city hall is heating up in Mississauga as two high profile candidates launched their campaigns on Sunday, setting up a showdown between the city\u2019s current and former mayor.<\/p>\n

Carolyn Parrish is Mississauga\u2019s incumbent, and she\u2019s looking to secure her first full term in next month\u2019s municipal election after winning a byelection in 2024 when Bonnie Crombie stepped down in order to run for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party.<\/p>\n

However, after failing to win a seat in the provincial legislature, Crombie decided to return to municipal politics and try to win her old job back.<\/p>\n

During Sunday\u2019s campaign kickoff, it was clear there is no love lost between the two rivals.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very hard, I think it\u2019s hard for her,\u201d Parrish tells CityNews. \u201cI think she\u2019s floundering a little bit and we\u2019ll just sit back and let it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think this looks like floundering,\u201d Crombie shot back during her launch party. \u201cWe are doing very, very well.\u201d<\/p>\n

During her kick off, Parrish stressed a desire to continue with the path she begun since taking over as mayor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love our city. I\u2019ve spent 40 years representing it at different levels and I\u2019m not giving up on it now,\u201d Parrish said, her voice breaking with emotion.<\/p>\n

At her campaign kick off, Crombie reiterated she has the experience needed to create a future that is more affordable for the city\u2019s residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am here because I care, because I love this city,\u201d she said. \u201cI could have had any job I wanted in the private sector, but I wanted to be here. I want to fix the mess at City Hall right now and I want to serve the people of Mississauga.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recent polling shows frontrunners Parish and Crombie in a dead heat<\/a> with around 35 per cent support among decided voters.<\/p>\n

Two other current city councillors have thrown their hats into the ring for the mayors race. Alvin Tedjo, who represents Ward 2, finished runner-up to Parrish in the mayoral byelection, and he\u2019s looking to take the next step this fall.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re looking for someone who can make their lives affordable, they\u2019re looking for someone who can make their city a safer place. They\u2019re looking for someone who can tackle the challenge that we have in front of us, with the international chaos that\u2019s going around, we need Mississauga to be prepared for that and we need someone who\u2019s going to plan for the next five, 10, 15 years, and that\u2019s what I bring to the table,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Dipika Damerla has been a Mississauga councillor since 2018 and currently represents Ward 7. Before that, she was a Liberal MPP for seven years.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of the things that I\u2019m running on I have already fought for,\u201d she said during her campaign kick off on Saturday. \u201cI\u2019m running on a new independent audit agenda, I fought for it. I\u2019m runnning on fixing the policing formula, I fought for it. \u2026Everything in my platform I\u2019ve already fought for, it\u2019s change you can believe in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mississauga voters will get the opportunity to size up the candidates when they take part in a mayoral debate at 7 p.m. Oct. 1 on CityNews 24\/7. Mark McAllister will moderate the debate as candidates field questions from Food Banks Mississauga and the Metamorphosis Network.<\/p>\n

Voters are set to go to the polls on Oct. 26.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tComposite photo shows the four leading candidates in the race for Mississauga mayor. (L-R) Alvin Tedjo, Bonnie Crombie, Dipika Demerla, Carolyn Parrish. CITYNEWS <\/p>\n

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