NSFM 2025 Board of Directors Election Information

CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT

David Mitchell, Mayor, Town of Bridgewater

David Mitchell is the Mayor of the Town of Bridgewater, currently serving his third consecutive term after first being elected as Mayor in 2016. He previously served eight years as a Councillor from 2004 to 2012. Over his 17 years in municipal government, David has taken on a variety of leadership roles, including two years as a board member with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
David is seeking election as President of the NSFM Board of Directors. His nomination reflects his commitment to strengthening municipal unity and ensuring that the collective voice of municipalities is clearly heard at both the provincial and federal levels. Recognized as a consensus builder, David is dedicated to fostering collaboration among municipalities and advancing shared priorities with other orders of government.

CANDIDATES FOR VICE PRESIDENT

James Fuller, Warden, Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s

James Fuller is the Warden of the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s, now serving his second term as a Councillor. He has also held the role of Regional Representative for the Cape Breton-Strait Region on the NSFM Board of Directors, during which he met directly with councils across the region to better understand their local concerns.
James brings extensive experience in governance, having worked internationally in governmental, political, and security sector reform. His background has provided him with a strong foundation in best practices for effective governance. James is seeking election as Vice President of the NSFM Board of Directors, motivated by his commitment to advancing local decision-making and ensuring rural voices are heard. He is dedicated to being a strong advocate for municipalities across Nova Scotia, particularly in addressing the unique challenges they face.

Eldon MacDonald, Councillor, Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Eldon MacDonald is the Deputy Mayor and a Councillor with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, first elected to municipal office in 2012. A small business owner and long-time community advocate, Eldon has volunteered for more than 35 years, serving in leadership roles on numerous boards, committees, and organizations, including positions as Director and Past President.
During his 13 years on Council, Eldon has held several key leadership roles, including Chair of the Cape Breton Regional Police Commission, Fire and Emergency Services Committee, CBRM Audit Committee, and the Library Board. He continues to serve on a range of local and regional committees dedicated to strengthening community well-being.
Eldon has been an active participant in the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities since his election, attending 23 of the past 25 conferences. He currently serves on the NSFM Board of Directors and Executive Committee, where he has contributed to the organization’s ongoing development and modernization. His collaborative efforts helped shape the transformation from the former Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities to the NSFM, creating a stronger, more inclusive, and sustainable organization for members across the province.
Eldon is seeking election as Vice President of the NSFM Board of Directors. With his proven leadership, experience, and dedication to municipal advocacy, he is committed to representing the interests and priorities of municipalities across Nova Scotia and continuing to strengthen the collective voice of local government.

Eldon has attached a short video for your review and consideration to provide some background of his involvement since 2012 with the NSFM.

CANDIDATES FOR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

CANDIDATES FOR CBRM

Gordon D. MacDonald, Councillor, Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Gordon MacDonald is a Councillor in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, currently serving his second term. A retired postal worker, Gordon was a long-time President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and a past Executive Vice President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, representing postal employees across the province.
Gordon also serves on the board of New Deal Development/Future Growth and has been a member of the CBRM Fire and Emergency Services Committee. He is seeking election as the Regional Representative for CBRM on the NSFM Board of Directors, bringing with him a strong record of advocacy and community service.

CANDIDATES FOR CAPE BRETON STRAIT

John Dunbar, Councillor, Municipality of the County of Antigonish

John Dunbar is a Councillor in the Municipality of the County of Antigonish, currently serving his third term. Since November 2024, he has also held the position of Deputy Warden. With more than eight years of experience in municipal government, John is recognized for his ability to listen to diverse perspectives and make informed decisions with care and consideration.
John is seeking election as the Regional Representative for the Cape Breton Strait on the NSFM Board of Directors. He is committed to ensuring that the voices of municipalities in the region are heard and that the activities and decisions of NSFM are effectively communicated back to local councils.

CANDIDATES FOR COLCHESTER-CUMBERLAND-PICTOU-EAST HANTS 

Andy Thompson, Councillor, Municipality of Pictou County

Andy Thompson is a Councillor in the Municipality of Pictou County and is seeking election as the Regional Representative for Colchester-Cumberland-Pictou-East Hants on the NSFM Board of Directors.

CANDIDATES FOR HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY (HRM)

Councillor Sam Austin, HRM Representative

Sam Austin, Councillor with Halifax Regional Municipality, has been acclaimed as Regional Representative for HRM on the NSFM Board of Directors.

CANDIDATES FOR SOUTH SHORE 

Alison Smith, Councillor, The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg

Alison Smith is a Councillor with the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, first elected to municipal office in October 2024. She brings five years of experience working in a provincial caucus office, where she conducted outreach across the South Shore and Valley regions, met regularly with municipal councils, and provided legislative research and policy advice on natural resource issues.
Alison has been an active community volunteer, serving on the board of the Second Story Women’s Centre, where she helped re-open the organization following its 2023 closure. She also collaborated with feminist organizations to coordinate national panel discussions on Violence and Harassment in Politics.
An award-winning writer with three books published by Gaspereau Press, Alison has spent more than two decades mentoring writers and contributing to Nova Scotia’s literary community. She brings strong communication, organizational, and advocacy skills to her role in municipal government. In her role as Councillor, Alison is keenly interested in improving local democracy. Listening to her community, she brought forward the concern of uranium exploration in the Lahave River Watershed, which led to a strong position from her Council.
Motivated by a commitment to rural representation, Alison is dedicated to ensuring that deeply rural communities are heard. Having lived and raised a family in communities such as Caledonia and New Germany, she values rural resilience and innovation but believes that local strength must be supported by strong public services and strategies that build sustainable rural economies.

Jamie Myra, Mayor, Town of Lunenburg

Jamie Myra is the Mayor of the Town of Lunenburg, first elected in a 2023 by-election and re-elected in the province-wide municipal election in 2024. He previously served on Town Council from 2000 to 2012, including one year as Deputy Mayor.
A lifelong resident of Lunenburg, Jamie has been an active leader in both community and business. For 22 years he worked alongside his father at the family-owned Stan’s Dad and Lad Ltd., a long-standing local business. He has also served as President of the Lunenburg Curling Club, the South Shore Minor Hockey Association, and the Lunenburg Board of Trade, and was a member of the Lunenburg and District Fire Department for 15 years, retiring at the rank of Captain.
Jamie is seeking election as the Regional Representative for the South Shore on the NSFM Board of Directors. He is committed to strengthening collaboration between municipalities and other levels of government, ensuring that municipal voices are at the table when funding programs are developed. He believes in fostering partnerships to address shared priorities such as housing and policing and is dedicated to being a strong advocate for municipalities across the region.

CANDIDATES FOR SOUTHWESTERN SHORE

Belle Hatfield, Councillor, Town of Yarmouth

Belle Hatfield, Councillor with the Town of Yarmouth, has been acclaimed as Regional Representative for the Southwestern Shore on the NSFM Board of Directors.

CANDIDATES FOR THE VALLEY

Amery Boyer, Mayor, Town of Annapolis Royal

Amery Boyer is the Mayor of the Town of Annapolis Royal, first elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024. She previously served as Chief Administrative Officer for the Town from 2002 to 2012, bringing a decade of administrative leadership to her current role. Earlier in her career, Amery held senior positions with the former Metropolitan Authority and the City of Halifax, including Director of Human Resources and Chief Negotiator.
Her municipal expertise extends internationally through her work with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, where she consulted on democratic governance initiatives in Guyana. She was also a founding board member of the Property Valuation Services Corporation.
Amery has been acclaimed as Regional Representative for the Valley on the NSFM Board of Directors. She is committed to advancing collaboration among municipalities and addressing shared challenges such as community policing, coastal protection, infrastructure deficits, and effective public engagement.