Elect Rick Kunc
for Ward 13
Affordability
Accountability
Availability
Why I'm Running
for Council
Affordability, Accountability, Availability
Municipal government is the level of government that touches our lives most often. We feel it. If Hamilton is working then Dundas will be stronger, and if Dundas is thriving, Hamilton will be better. We need great communities across all of Ward 13 because together we are better. For this reason, we must elect confident, reflective, connected leaders who will listen, learn and lead. I am that leader.
I have spent the past calendar year talking to people at coffee shops, arenas, restaurants, parks, breakfasts, events, front doors, and online. Hundreds of people. Upon reflection, a few things are clear. People want Dundas and all of Ward 13 to be a great place to live and raise a family. They want to be heard. And it is also clear that many of the issues are complicated and are connected.
If elected I will work to impact affordability, I will be accountable to the decisions I make, and I will be available to you, the residents of Ward 13.
“Dundas is my home,
and its future is my priority.”
My career in educational leadership has been defined by a simple philosophy: build trust through transparency and lead through action. Whether in public, private, or independent schools, I have relied on organizational management and consensus-building to navigate complex changes. I am running for Council because I see it as my turn to give back to the community that has supported my family. I feel that this is not just an opportunity but an obligation.
I am ready to listen, ready to learn, and—most importantly—ready to act for you.
01. Leadership
“I am committed to, and not afraid to lead change that strengthens and improves our communities.”
Leadership begins with vision. Effective leaders build relationships grounded in trust and shared purpose. My friend Ted McMeekin calls this “trusted motives”. They bring people together, forming coalitions based on common values to achieve meaningful results. Strong leadership means understanding how to build consensus—and, just as importantly, how to turn that consensus into action that creates real change.
Great leaders listen first. I recognize what I don’t know and throughout my career have demonstrated the ability to seek to understand before acting. I will continue to surround myself with people that I can learn from and, most importantly, I will learn from you, the people I will serve. I will listen carefully to residents’ needs and aspirations, and as a leader I understand the difference between the two. Then, as with all great leaders I will act. I will not delay progress with endless meetings—I will work collaboratively to develop a clear path forward and commit to following it. Progress is not always linear; sometimes the path requires a detour. But without taking the first step, no destination is ever reached. I am committed to, and not afraid to lead change that strengthens and improves our communities.
If elected as Councillor for Ward 13, I am committed to listening, seeking to understand, helping to create—or supporting city staff in creating—clear and achievable plans, and working decisively to turn those plans into action.
02. Affordability & Infrastructure
“City Hall cannot continue to look at the same solutions for problems they have been unable to solve.”
Decades of managing the consequences of neglected infrastructure has to stop. We have to find a new pathway forward to addressing the billions of dollars of accumulated infrastructure costs.
Hamilton faces a revenue shortage that has not allowed for the basic maintenance and proactive replacement of our critical infrastructure. This impacts our sense of community, our affordability, our safety and our quality of life. City Hall cannot continue to look at the same solutions for problems they have been unable to solve.
If elected I will commit to bringing new voices and new expertise to the table—to develop strategies and execute plans that finally break the cycle of continuous residential tax hikes used to compensate for decades of infrastructure neglect.
03. Community & Engagement
“Residents are clear: they want a stronger voice in the decisions that affect their daily lives.”
Dundas and all of Ward 13 are defined by a strong sense of community—supported by the local BIA, arts and sports organizations, service clubs, faith groups, and community events that bring people together.
Residents are clear: they want a stronger voice in the decisions that affect their daily lives. They also see real gaps in recreational facilities, frontline services like policing and accessible health care, and essential infrastructure.
If elected, I will listen, learn, and act—prioritizing frontline services and rebuilding a strong Ward 13 Community Council so community voices help shape our future.
04. Housing
“I will commit to working with all of our partners to find the formula to—unlock new housing supply, end encampments, address the “missing middle,” and build a more equitable, hopeful future for our city.”
Everyone is aware of the housing crisis in Hamilton. Housing affordability has reached a breaking point, driven by years of rising land and construction costs, labour shortages, regulatory delays, and market dynamics that reward only certain types of housing.
In Hamilton, the consequences are stark: approximately 2000 unhoused people, thousands of families are waiting for affordable homes, systemic inequities are deepening, and housing insecurity is undermining health, education, and economic opportunity. Governments cannot solve this crisis alone, but with the right mix of smart planning, private-sector partnership, and coordinated action across all three levels of government, we can facilitate change. This is a complex issue that requires dedicated long term planning to find a solution.
If elected Councillor for Ward 13 I will commit to working with all of our partners to find the formula to—unlock new housing supply, end encampments, address the “missing middle,” and build a more equitable, hopeful future for our city.
05. Trust & Transparency
“I will engage in meaningful two-way conversations, learn from the mistakes of past councils, and welcome accountability..”
For far too long actions at City Hall have lacked transparency and eroded trust.
From microshelters to cybersecurity to sewergate, decisions continue to be made that lack direction, transparency and accountability. Each of these decisions and actions have impacted the city budget and therefore affordability for the people of Hamilton. This has to change. Strong mayor powers have further eroded transparency and trust. The next council must find ways to rebuild trust and increase transparency.
If elected as Councillor for Ward 13, I am committed to earning your trust through my actions. I will engage in meaningful two-way conversations, learn from the mistakes of past councils, and welcome accountability for the decisions we make together. Transparency will not be a slogan—it will be a standard I work to uphold every day.
Share big ideas,
contribute to real impact.
Contact Me
Your voice matters.
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