Windsor mayor-elect Fred Francis says he’s already getting a better understanding of the challenges facing the city as he prepares to take over from longtime Mayor Drew Dilkens later this month. The two sat down at City Hall on Friday for a transition meeting, just over a week before the current council’s term ends and Francis officially takes office on Nov. 15. Francis said his days have been filled with meetings involving provincial leaders, community organizations, business and labour representatives, returning and incoming councillors, and city administration. The transition has also included early work on the city’s upcoming budget, staffing for the mayor’s office and preparations for the new council’s inauguration and strategic planning session. “Every day has been jam-packed,” Francis said. “We’re working on budget, we’re working on staffing with respect to the mayor’s office, we’re working on a number of things.” He credited Dilkens, his team and city CAO Ray Mensour’s administration with helping provide information and move the transition forward. Francis said getting access to internal reports and information has given him a better appreciation for the size and complexity of municipal government. “You really don’t know until you’re sitting in the chair and you’re getting all the reports,” he said. “You really get an understanding of how large and complex the corporation of the City of Windsor is once you’re getting all the information.” Financial pressures will be among the first challenges facing the incoming mayor and council as they prepare the 2027 municipal budget, which must be submitted in February. Francis acknowledged there will be challenges in delivering on his campaign promises, although he said how significant those pressures become will depend partly on what the incoming council wants to prioritize. “There is pressure on the budget and there’s a lot of work to do,” Francis said. “How significant that will be is going to be up to city council moving forward.” He said the budget is already in draft form and he is working with administration to ensure it is workable before being presented publicly. Francis defeated Dilkens in October’s municipal election, securing 28,204 votes compared with 20,021 for the incumbent, ending Dilkens’ 12-year tenure as mayor. https://www.ctvnews.ca/windsor/article/windsorites-choose-change-in-electing-fred-francis-as-new-mayor/ Despite the change in leadership, Dilkens said he wants to see his successor and the incoming council succeed. “The beautiful part of democracy is being able to even run against each other and then sit next to one another and smile and laugh and have good conversation,” Dilkens said. “At the heart of all of this, when all is said and done, what he and I both want is the best for the City of Windsor.” Dilkens described his time as mayor as the honour of a lifetime, having served as an elected official for 20 years, including three terms as mayor. He said his final council meeting on Monday will be a chance to say farewell, adding he expects it will be his last time watching a Windsor council meeting. Dilkens said he leaves office with gratitude, reflecting positively on his time at City Hall despite the challenges of navigating floods, tornadoes, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Freedom Convoy and trade tensions with the United States. He identified the development of Sandwich South as one project he wishes he had more time to advance, pointing to its potential for both residential growth and economic development. However, Dilkens said he has no plans to return to municipal politics and wants Francis to have the opportunity to implement the vision he presented during the campaign. “I want him to succeed highly. I need him to succeed because our city, our city’s counting on him,” Dilkens explained. Francis said Dilkens also offered him some private advice, along with a reminder that being mayor is ultimately a people-focused job. “You’ve got to work with everybody. You’ve got to be mindful of the community, and you’ve got to be mindful of the economic opportunities in front of us,” Francis said. Dilkens’ departure comes with another distinction, as he was recently named Municipal World’s 2026 Mayor of the Year. The national magazine’s editorial team recognized his work advocating for Windsor’s manufacturing sector and Canada-U.S. supply chain, along with his leadership through major economic developments and challenges during his time in office. Dilkens called the recognition an honour, saying he was grateful to have his work acknowledged by municipal peers across the country. Francis said residents can expect a change in direction as the new administration takes over, with the incoming mayor promising to turn the page and move forward with the priorities he outlined during the campaign. The new council’s inaugural meeting is scheduled for Nov. 16.
