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Aaron Patella, who previously served as a North Hatley councillor, has announced he is running for mayor in the Nov. 2 municipal election, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and community engagement

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

North Hatley resident and longtime entrepreneur Aaron Patella has announced his candidacy for mayor in the upcoming municipal election on Nov. 2, positioning himself as a voice for greater transparency and fiscal responsibility in the village’s administration.

Patella, who previously served on council in 2018, said his decision to run is rooted in both his professional expertise and his concerns over how the town is currently managed. “I want to bring clarity, accountability, and I want to do it in a community that works together,” he said.

Professional and academic background

Patella has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years and teaches business at Champlain College, where he covers administration, marketing, law, and statistics. His academic career includes a master’s degree in finance and ongoing doctoral research focused on municipal financial accounting. Recently, he became a PhD candidate after completing his comprehensive exams.

“With my coursework done, I now have time to devote to properly engaging in municipal politics,” he explained.

First term experience

Elected to council in 2018, Patella said he learned quickly about the pitfalls of small-town politics. His early run, he recalled, was sparked by community anger over restricting free beach access.

“The town’s administration can have an undue influence on an ill-equipped or ill-prepared town council,” he said, stressing that his years in office gave him valuable insight into the system.

Concerns about administration and spending

Patella is openly critical of the current allocation of municipal resources.

“The town’s public administration is spiralled up to 26 per cent of the budget,” he said. “At some point, you can’t tell me that continuing to pay individuals’ salaries is more effective than delegating to town committees and community efforts to do the same job.”

Community engagement and local expertise

North Hatley, Patella said, is home to a highly educated population eager to contribute. “We have a ton of professionals that would love to donate time, and they’re continually rejected. It makes no sense,” he argued.

He believes tapping into residents’ expertise would not only save money but also build stronger community trust.

Addressing cultural transition

Another challenge he identified is maintaining the village’s cultural balance as demographics shift. “We’ve gone from a majority English town to a town that’s now 40-60 English versus French,” he said. “We’ve got to maintain the historicity of our English culture and support our new citizens and make them both feel welcome.”

He suggested the town’s three remaining churches could serve as anchors for cultural and social integration, while secular initiatives should also be strengthened.

Relationship with administration

While he does not plan to run with a slate of councillors, Patella said much depends on the relationship between the mayor and the director general. He emphasized the need for oversight without allowing either side to dominate.

At the same time, he criticized the tone of official communications. “I find a number of them to take a very high horse position on what’s going on, talking down to the citizenry,” he said. The result, he added, is that some residents feel compelled to launch their own investigations.

Campaign outlook

Patella has launched a bilingual campaign website, AaronPatella.com, outlining his priorities. He plans to campaign door-to-door and is open to public discussions or “ask me anything” events. With candidate registration closing soon, he said his focus is on maintaining steady progress. “It is pace, not race,” he said.

Despite a full professional life, Patella stressed he is committed to the role. “A couple of people have said to me, you know, you’re a busy person. But I have time for priorities, as you can see. When it’s important, it gets done.”