By Jack Brittle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Chris Carter, co-founder of Burlington Dads community group and co-host of the “Shit My Dad Taught Me” podcast, says that he is running for Ward 4 councillor because he “believes Burlington can grow and evolve while protecting the quality of life that made people want to live here in the first place.”
Carter’s professional background is in business, marketing, technology and operations.
Carter said that he met many politicians during his work with non-profit organizations and began to realize that he would be able to do more as a public servant.
“I’ve developed relationships with them [politicians], and have had good conversations with them,” Carter said. “And the more I looked at it, the more I thought, ‘What else could I do?’ If I had more resources behind me, if I had council and a more inside view of things, what more could be done?”
Carter said that his experience helping the community with Burlington Dads helped prepare him for public service.
He said that fiscal responsibility is the issue that he has heard the most about from residents.
“Property taxes come up a lot,” Carter said. “Spending at City Hall comes up a lot. The way that we’re prioritizing our resources with things around our arenas and Parks and Rec. That is for sure the conversation that I’m having the most.”
Carter said that his background in business and the non-profit sector makes him look at things very “analytically.”
“That’s going to be a big part of the value that I bring as a councillor,” Carter said. “Making sure that we’re spending properly, looking for efficiencies and reducing our redundancies and duplications.”
Carter would like to target a 0% property tax increase, or “as close to zero as responsibly possible, while protecting essential services and infrastructure.” Burlington’s 2026 budget resulted in a 2.98% increase in the city’s portion of the property tax bill.
READ MORE: Burlington Council Sets 2026 Budget Amid Resident Concerns Over Tax Increase
Carter said that infrastructure also comes up a lot in his discussions.
“Things around roads and traffic get brought up a lot, as well as safety around vehicle theft and home invasion,” he said.
Carter said that as a homeowner in Ward 4, property taxes is the issue at the top of his mind.
“I believe in providing a great level of service, and I certainly don’t want a reduction of the core services,” Carter said. “But what I want to know is, as these increases come out, how can they be substantiated, and are they required? I really want to dig in and see if I can save everybody some money.”
Carter said that he will continue his advocacy for mental health support as councillor by championing funding for youth sports programs and organizations.
“I’ve seen firsthand what team sport can do for kids and do for the community,” Carter said. “So I want to be a champion of that. I want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to get kids off of screens and into the real world.”
Carter also said that the city needs to do a better job at being transparent with residents, specifically with its social media presence.
Carter has taken this approach with his campaign, recording a daily vlog entitled “Ward 4 Daily,” which he posts on his Instagram page.
“In any business I’ve ever had, whether I have a board or I’ve got shareholders, I have a responsibility to them,” Carter said. “So I’m going to bring that dynamic, and I think that’s going to be pretty unique to city council.”
For information about the Burlington Municipal Election on October 26, click here.
