Hamilton’s incoming city council has completed two days of orientation ahead of its Nov. 18 inaugural meeting, with mayor-elect Keanin Loomis preparing to lead a substantially reshaped chamber.

Nine of the 16 members — the mayor and eight councillors — are new, according to Joey Coleman’s analysis published Nov. 12 in TPR Hamilton. Coleman characterizes the incoming council as right of centre, with tax restraint and service improvements prominent in the new members’ campaigns.

The turnover followed defeats for six of the 13 incumbents who sought re-election, including Mayor Andrea Horwath. In 2022, two of nine incumbents seeking another term lost their races.

Loomis, who led the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce from 2013 to 2022, is entering elected office for the first time. He has no declared party affiliation. Coleman describes his municipal platforms as centre-right, while noting that local politics does not fit neatly into party labels.

At the opening of council orientation, Loomis said that “while disagreement will happen, dysfunction is a choice,” according to TPR.

The incoming chamber includes several councillors with Conservative connections. Ward 9’s Jonathan Stathakos has worked as a Conservative campaign manager and staffer, while Ward 12’s Fred Bennink was a provincial Conservative candidate in 2022. Ward 10’s Nicole Trombetta aligned her campaign with mayoral candidate Rob Cooper.

Other newcomers emphasized municipal finances without those same party connections. Ward 7’s Mark Daly campaigned on infrastructure, tax control and accountability. Ward 13’s Rick Kunc emphasized affordability and accountability, alongside downtown revitalization. Ward 15’s Colleen Stewart made taxes a central campaign issue.

The council also retains progressive councillors Cameron Kroetsch in Ward 2 and Nrinder Nann in Ward 3. Coleman identifies both as New Democrats, while describing returning Ward 11 councillor Mark Tadeson as a potential swing vote.

Loomis has acknowledged that advancing his agenda will require work before proposals reach the council table.

“I believe I can get to nine votes with this group of councillors on most everything,” he said in an interview on The 155 election podcast, quoted by TPR. “And if you can’t, you don’t put the motion on the table.”

Orientation took place Nov. 9 and 10. Incoming members are scheduled to begin moving into their offices Nov. 15.

Sources