Leanne Caron's long tenure as a Ward 5 councillor and her emphasis on affordability, housing supply, and collaborative governance have positioned her ahead in trader assessments for Guelph's October 26 mayoral election. Recent candidate forums and debates have centered on regulatory stability for developers, data centre oversight, and municipal spending priorities, with Caron and fellow councillor Ken Yee Chew emerging as the clearest frontrunners. Advance voting has begun, and the large field of lesser-known candidates keeps secondary options clustered near even odds. Any late shifts in turnout among key voter blocs or standout performances in remaining events could still widen or narrow the gap before polls close.