AMO 2026 Board Elections: Frequently Asked Questions

2026 is an AMO Board election year! Elections for positions to the AMO Board of Directors will occur at the AMO Annual Conference, hosted by the City of Ottawa in August 2026. Nominations for all positions will open in late April 2026. See below for answers to some frequently asked questions if you are considering running.

What are the key dates and timelines for the AMO Board Elections?

• Nominations open: late April 2026
• Nominations close: late June 2026
• Candidates’ meeting: late June 2026
• Nominations report listing all certified candidates sent to membership: early July 2026
• Deadline for registered delegates to change their caucus affiliation: late July 2026
• Voting period: Monday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 18, 2026 (times TBD)
• Elections results announcement: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 (time TBD)
• First Board meeting for all elected candidates: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (time TBD)
• Term of office: August 20, 2026 - August 22, 2028

Which positions will be open for election?

• President: One (1) municipal elected official
• Secretary-Treasurer: One (1) municipal employee
• County Caucus: Three (3) municipal elected officials and one (1) municipal employee
• Large Urban Caucus: Five (5) municipal elected officials and one (1) municipal employee
• Northern Caucus: Two (2) municipal elected officials from Northeastern Ontario and two (2) municipal elected officials from Northwestern Ontario
• Regional and Single Tier Caucus: Six (6) municipal elected officials
• Rural Caucus: Four (4) municipal elected officials and one (1) municipal employee
• Small Urban Caucus: Four (4) municipal elected officials and one (1) municipal employee

How do I know if I am eligible? What qualifications are required of AMO Board members?

From the AMO By-law No. 1, Directors shall:

• Be an elected official or an employee of an AMO member municipality in good standing;
• Be an individual of eighteen (18) or more years of age;
• Not have the status of bankrupt;
• Not have been found under the Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 or under the Mental Health Act, 1990 to be incapable of managing property; and
• Not have been found to be incapable by any court in Canada or elsewhere.

In addition to the above, no member municipality may be represented on the Board by more than one Director elected to the Board, except where the Director is appointed to the AMO Board by virtue of another position (i.e. Chair or President of: AFMO, EOWC, FONOM, MARCO, NOMA, OBCM, OSUM, ROMA, WOWC). As such, only one individual may be nominated for election by any member municipality.

What are the responsibilities of an AMO Board member? What skills and experience are you seeking?

The Board of Directors is responsible for setting the association’s strategic objectives, setting the annual budget, establishing corporate policies/procedures, and reviewing, discussing, and approving AMO’s policy and program initiatives. Board members have a legal responsibility to manage the business and affairs of the corporation and must act in the best interests of the association. The Board is supported by an Executive Director and a team of over 50 full-time staff members, who provide updates and recommendations to the Board.

AMO is seeking candidates who represent all geographic regions and municipal structures in Ontario, and bring skills in corporate governance, strategic planning, public policy, program administration, and government and stakeholder relations.

What is the time commitment?

Directors are expected to participate in six Board meetings each year, typically held on the third or fourth Thursday and Friday of the months of January, March, June, August, September, and November. Directors may participate in-person at AMO's Home Office in Toronto or virtually, when available. Detailed information about the expectations and responsibilities of an AMO Director will be included in the call for nominations in April.

How are travel costs associated with Board duties reimbursed?

Expenses to participate on the AMO Board of Directors are not typically covered by AMO. Each Board members’ home municipality should be prepared to cover the costs of travel and any needed accommodations.

AMO will reimburse travel expenses in excess of $300.00 per meeting for AMO Board of Directors, AMO Executive Committee meetings, and MOU meetings. Travel expenses refer to reasonable transportation expenses and do not apply to AMO Board of Directors/Executive Committee meetings held prior to or following the AMO Annual Conference. Board members are expected to make the most efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

What will I need to submit to become a candidate?

Individuals must submit a completed Nomination Form, a Council resolution supporting the nomination, and any additional supporting material requested by the CRO. The Nomination Form will be found in the advertised call for nominations which will be sent to all municipal Elected Officials, Clerks, and Chief Administrative Officers in late April and posted on the AMO website at that time. 

All nomination documents are required to be submitted completely and accurately by the submission deadline. We encourage candidates to submit their documents well in advance of the deadline so that they may correct errors identified by the Chief Returning Officer (CRO) before the deadline.

What wording is accepted for the Council resolution?

The Council resolution must clearly state the individual being nominated and the position they are being nominated for. For Caucus Director positions, the Council resolution must also specify the Caucus the individual is being nominated to.

An example of a Council resolution is as follows:

Be it resolved that the Council for <insert Municipality’s legal name> nominates <individual's name & title> for the position of <President / Secretary-Treasurer / Director on Caucus> on the AMO Board of Directors for the 2026-2028 term.

Additional wording can be included in the motion if required by the nominating Council (e.g., authorization to reimburse expenses, if elected). 

Who runs the elections?

AMO Board elections are coordinated by AMO staff and overseen by the City of Brampton Clerk’s Office. The City of Brampton Clerk is the Chief Returning Officer (CRO). 

AMO staff are responsible for advertising the elections, sharing received nominations with the CRO for review, and providing information to certified candidates during the period between nominations closing and the closing of polls.

The CRO and their team is responsible for certifying candidate nominations, preparing the nominations report listing all certified candidates, reviewing materials provided to candidates regarding campaigning, preparing ballots, administering voting, and tabulating and announcing elections results.

What do I need to know to prepare for campaigning and the election?

Individuals who express interest are not considered candidates until nominations open and their nomination has been certified by the CRO. A list of all certified candidates will be posted to the AMO website as nominations are received and certified.

AMO does not reimburse any expenses incurred by candidates for the creation or distribution of campaign materials.

Candidates may request a list of the names and contact information of all voting delegates for their respective office. Voting delegates are only those elected officials from AMO member municipalities who are registered conference delegates. AMO does not provide these lists to any candidate until after nominations have closed and the nominations report is published. Details to submit this request is provided to all candidates after the nominations report is published.

Eligible candidates are provided an opportunity to address voting delegates with brief remarks on the main plenary stage (President and Secretary-Treasurer candidates) or at Monday Caucus lunches (Caucus Director candidates).

Candidates are provided any additional information about campaigning in the conference venue as this becomes available. AMO expects all candidates to comply with conference venue requests regarding posting and distributing campaign materials. 

I am planning to run in my local municipal election in October 2026. How do municipal election results impact the AMO Board of Directors?

AMO Board members must be an elected official or an employee of an AMO member municipality in good standing. AMO Board members who do not retain their municipal seat in the October 2026 municipal election are deemed ineligible for the AMO Board of Directors and their seat will be declared vacant. Vacant Board positions will be filled by appointment in fall 2026/winter 2027 through a recruitment process.