A community activist and labour organizer is seeking the mayor’s chair in Clarence-Rockland.
Jay Woodruff is currently one of two candidates registered in the city’s mayoral race. Mario Zanth, the incumbent, is seeking re-election.
Woodruff officially registered last month, and is promoting himself as a grassroots, independent option that is looking to break the traditional political mold. His platform centers on moving decision-making power away from corporate developers and putting it directly back into the hands of local residents.
“I am running to free up power and disperse it to the community, not hoard it and dictate, so you will have the power to make a difference,” said Woodruff. “Building community wealth means setting roots and long-term focus, building developer wealth means pulling up roots.”
Woodruff is a self-described Anglophone challenging the long-standing local narrative that only a Francophone leader can fight for the community. He argues that a leader does not need to be Francophone to protect and grow French language and culture. His goal is to create a community where the next generation of Franco Ontarians can be taught, trained, and work locally without having to leave their homes.
“I am focused on providing my Franco Ontarian daughter a future here with your children, growing the language and culture not losing it as we sacrifice their future and force them to leave in order to have a life,” he said. “If elected, I will be launching many equity committees, including a Francophone committee to help guide the future for community.”
Woodruff wants to disperse power rather than hoard it. He aims to shift the dynamic from “us versus the city” to “us and the city,” removing the “gatekeeping” and complex regulatory barriers that keep resources out of the reach of everyday residents. His campaign structure relies heavily on community empowerment, true equity, and direct public impact.
“It has never been about gatekeeping or controlling knowledge for me, it has always been about sharing it to help others,” he said. “The systems we have to navigate to bring about change are purposefully complex and designed to prevent change, sharing the information on how to use them to our advantage is deeply rewarding, especially when you get updates from people who have launched their event, changed policies, helped others, and brought about positive change throughout the world.”
Woodruff has been critical of the municipal government’s history of relying on developer-led growth while neglecting essential public infrastructure. He is running on a promise to bring genuine, long-term public transportation to Clarence-Rockland and ease the community’s severe traffic congestion.
“We are already at a breaking point with congestion, without the thousands of new homes being built, transit should have been in place long ago instead of abandoned,” he said.
Drawing from his extensive background as a facilitator and organizer, Woodruff emphasizes that a mayor must work with all elected officials regardless of political party. He launched his bid promising to refuse petty partisan tribalism and keep doors open to all perspectives.
“Building community wealth means setting roots and long-term focus, building developer wealth means pulling up roots,” he said. “We need a municipality that focuses on the future and stops repeating the mistakes of the past.”
