JEFF YAEGER
Candidate for Ward 15 • Hamilton City Council, Flamborough

Solve the right problems. Spend wisely. Measure the results.

Why I'm Running?

I’m running for Ward 15 because I believe municipal government should focus on solving the problems that matter most to residents — and taxpayers should be able to see the results. Growth isn't inherently bad—but the roads, infrastructure and services needed to support that growth need to keep pace.

Throughout my career, I've learned that before jumping to a solution, you need to understand the problem you're actually trying to solve.

That means listening to the people affected, asking questions, looking at the data, considering alternatives and deciding what success should look like.

And after the money has been spent and the solution implemented, there is one more question that is too often forgotten:

Did it actually solve the problem?

If the answer is no, we shouldn't simply continue doing the same thing because that's the way it's always been done.

We should learn from it and find a better way.

That's the approach I want to bring to Hamilton City Council.

Who Am I?

My wife, Shauna, and I have lived in Waterdown since 2013. We have really enjoyed everything the community has to offer, especially the neighbours who have become friends. Our five kids are grown and living on their own, so now it is just the two of us and Grimm, our Mexican rescue dog.

Volunteering has been a big part of my life, giving back to my community whereever I have lived. Locally, I helped out at Ribfest, the Run for Chris, several park clean-ups and being a Big Brother.

Previously in my home town of Elmira, I was involved in:

Coaching soccer for 7 years (actually more like herding cats in Mini Soccer)
Woolwich Minor Hockey Trainer for five years, plus a year on Executive
Two years as Assistant Coach for Minor Softball
Two years on John Mahood School Council
Planning and helping to build Bristow Creek Park

I asked Dr. Marnie Richmond, she of Optometry fame, how she would describe me and this was her response:

"I first met Jeff at church about 20 years ago. We have lived in the same community ever since and have stayed in close contact. Jeff and my husband Mark Hood are particularly close, and the three of us often take an evening walk together—usually five nights a week.

Over the years, I’ve come to know Jeff as someone who genuinely cares about people and is willing to put that concern into action. I’ve seen him mentor younger men, volunteer in community projects such as park and school-ground cleanups, drive people to medical appointments when they need help, and assist people who are struggling.

He is a straight shooter who is willing to ask questions, dig deeper when he feels something needs to be understood, and speak up even when it may ruffle a few feathers."

My Career

My career hasn’t followed a traditional path.

From 1979 to 1990, apart from a three-year period selling life insurance, I worked in blue-collar and factory jobs. That experience gave me time to understand both what I wanted to do and what I didn’t.

While working as a process operator at Uniroyal Chemical, I began attending night classes at Wilfrid Laurier University, where I earned my Business Administration Diploma. That eventually led to:

15½ years with life insurance companies, progressing from clerk to business analyst, divisional controller and project manager
4½ years with insurance software companies as a senior business analyst
4½ years with EQHS software as a business consultant
Two years in electronic health records as a business analyst and then product owner
Five years with compliance software as a business analyst and then product manager
Two years with social media management software as a senior product manager responsible for platform and compliance products

More than four decades of varied experiences taught me how to bring together people with different expertise, ask the right questions, balance competing priorities and make decisions when resources are limited.

Actions speak louder than words—and what others say about my work speaks even louder.

Click Here to Read LinkedIn Recommendations

What Matters to Me

Value for Our Taxes

Hamilton residents have seen significant property-tax increases while families are facing higher costs everywhere else.

I want City spending focused on priorities that deliver measurable value to residents.

Roads, Traffic & Infrastructure

Waterdown has grown considerably, but our transportation infrastructure has struggled to keep pace.

Growth needs to be accompanied by the roads, infrastructure and services required to support it.

Community Safety

Residents deserve to feel safe in their homes and neighbourhoods.

With a new police and fire station coming to Waterdown, I want to ensure that investment translates into visible policing, effective emergency response, and improved service for our communities.

A Responsive City Hall

Residents shouldn't have to repeatedly email or call City departments simply to receive an acknowledgement.

City services should have reasonable service standards, and residents should know when they can expect a response.

Making Ward 15 Count

Ward 15 has rapidly growing urban communities as well as rural Flamborough. Our needs aren't always the same as other parts of Hamilton.

I want better transparency around the taxes we contribute, the services we receive and the investments being made in our communities.

Questions I'm Asking

I don't pretend to have all the answers. But I will ask the questions.

Good decisions start with good questions. Before committing taxpayer dollars to a solution, I believe we should understand the problem, examine the evidence, consider the alternatives and decide how success will be measured.

Here are some of the questions I'm looking into.

Growth & Infrastructure

Are roads and infrastructure being planned alongside population growth - or are we approving growth first and trying to catch up afterward?

MyRide On-Demand Transit

What does the service cost? How many people use it? What is the cost per passenger and are there alternatives that could provide residents with better value?

Waterdown Community Centre

Is the proposed Harry Howell location the best location for the community it will serve?

Waterdown has grown significantly to the east and southeast.

Would locating a major recreation facility west of Highway 6 require much of the population to travel farther and add traffic through already-congested parts of Waterdown?

Were more centrally located alternatives adequately considered?

Police & Emergency Services

How are police resources allocated to Ward 15 today? And when the new Waterdown station opens, how will we determine whether residents are actually receiving improved service?

My Approach

LISTEN → QUESTION → MEASURE → PRIORITIZE → ACT → CHECK

Did we actually solve the problem?

Municipal government will always face competing priorities and limited resources. I believe good decisions come from understanding the problem, using evidence, considering the alternatives, making a decision — and then measuring whether the solution actually worked.

Let's Talk

The best way to understand what's happening in Ward 15 is to hear directly from the people who live here.

If there's an issue you think deserves attention, or if you simply want to know where I stand, I'd like to hear from you.

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Phone

519-497-5569

LinkedIn Profile

Make an Informed Choice

Municipal government affects the services we use every day — roads, policing and fire services, recreation, development, transit, waste collection and property taxes.

I encourage Ward 15 residents to learn about all of the candidates, ask us questions and decide who best represents the kind of leadership you want at City Hall.

Advanced Polls

Flamborough Seniors Centre 163 Dundas Street East, Waterdown

October 3 & 4, 2026 from 10 am to 6 pm

October 10 & 11, 2026 from 10 am to 6 pm

October 17 & 18, 2026 from 10 am to 6 pm

All Advance Polls will have assistive technology.

Municipal Election Day — October 26, 2026

Poll Locations

St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School 170 Skinner Rd.

Waterdown District High School 215 Parkside Drive

Flamborough Seniors Centre 163 Dundas Street East

Harry Howell Twin-Pad Arena 27 Highway 5 West

Flamborough Centre Elementary School 922 Centre Road

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School 1624 Centre Road

Bethel Church 616 Dundas Street East

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