No matter what happens in next Monday’s elections, at least half of the municipalities that make up Waterloo Region will have new mayors.

Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr, Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran, North Dumfries Mayor Rob Deutschmann and Wellesley Mayor Ross Kelterborn are all retiring.

Zehr is the longest-serving of the group, having been first elected as mayor in 1997 – followed by Kelterborn in 2002, Halloran in 2006 and Deutschmann in 2010.

But no matter which of them you ask, they all agree that running a mayor or township isn’t a job one can do perfectly on their first day in the role.

“The first year was the biggest learning curve. You need a full season to go through everything,” says Halloran.

Unlike in any of the other municipalities guaranteed a new mayor, the candidates for Waterloo’s top job are all without prior experience on city council – the same position Halloran found herself in eight years ago.

She credits city staff with quickly helping her get up to speed.

Deutschmann, also a first-time politician, also says staff – both at the township and the Region of Waterloo – were instrumental in helping him grow into his role.

“It’s not that we’re being blindly led by staff, but they’re a great resource of information,” he says.

“There’s tons you don’t know. You should never be afraid to ask questions.”

Another lesson both Halloran and Deutschmann learned quickly – if they didn’t know it already – is that being mayor didn’t give them carte blanche to do whatever they wanted.

“Most people think that as mayor, you’re in charge of everything, and what you say goes. It’s not true at all,” says Halloran.

“You’re one vote on a council of eight people – but you do have an opportunity to bring ideas, your own vision of what you think the city wants to be.”

Pointing to the since-completed North Dumfries Community Centre, one of his greatest priorities, Deutschmann says mayors can have a big impact even in one term – but they need the rest of council onside.

“A lot of what the mayor is interested in can push the agenda – but you can’t be a gunslinger,” he says.

Halloran also lists the amount of time spent on the job and away from family as a part of the mayor’s job that surprised her.

To watch full-length interviews with candidates running for mayor of Guelph, chair of Waterloo Region and mayor of each city and township within Waterloo Region, click here.