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Petrolia councillor to run in Dawn-Euphemia

July 27, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent

Petrolia Town Councillor Debb Pitel is running for councillor again – just not in Petrolia.

Pitel has filed her nomination papers for the Oct. 26 municipal election in the Township of Dawn-Euphemia.

The one-term councillor owns a building in Petrolia, allowing her to run for office in 2022. Pitel said at the time that much of her family’s life activities were in Petrolia.

But this time around Pitel says “Home is Rutherford, and for 21 years this community has welcomed us. We’ve built a fresh start on a legacy farm. We decided our roots will stay in Rutherford for the next generation to enjoy. My heart belongs to Petrolia forever but my run for the next term will be in Dawn-Euphemia. My neighbours and friends who need a strong voice and fellow rural advocate for our community.”

Pitel is not the only person to file nomination papers in Dawn-Euphemia. Incumbent Paul LeBoeuf is also also seeking a second term. LeBoeuf also served a partial term from 2014 to 2017.

The addition of Pitel and LeBoeuf brings the number of people seeking the four council seats to five.

Would-be candidates across the province have until Aug. 21 to file nominations for the October election.

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