Candidate for Mayor · Hamilton

Rob Cooper

City Councillor, Ward 8 (since 2025)

Well documented

Background

Ward 8 councillor elected September 2025 (council's newest member). Chartered professional accountant with senior roles at Stelco, TD Bank, McMaster University and Manulife. 1

Keep tax increases at or below inflation; results-based budgeting; spending reviews. 1 2
Public safety via prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation; "target guns, gangs and drugs." 1 2
Master road-improvement plan; ask the province to upload the LINC and Red Hill Valley Parkway and add lanes. 1

Attributed to cited sources, not our judgement.

Corporate finance background managing large budgets. 1
Spoke against the 2026 tax increase at council, citing an affordability crisis. 3

According to CBC, he was elected to council in 2025, the shortest tenure among the leading candidates. 1
According to The Trillium, he and Horwath disagreed over how strong-mayor budget powers work; Horwath called the idea that only the mayor sets the tax rate "a fallacy." 2

Profile last reviewed October 1, 2026. Positives and concerns are summaries of what the cited sources report, not this site's views.