Essex closes investigation into potential unauthorized disclosure of Voters List information

by Essex Free Press Staff

On Monday, September 28, the Town of Essex Elections Team considered the investigation into a potential unauthorized disclosure of Voters List information closed, having started the investigation on Thursday, September 24.

It confirmed that the personal information of around 64 individuals was disclosed without authority by a person involved with a candidate’s election campaign. The personal information disclosed included the names and addresses of such individuals.

The candidate has confirmed with the Town that steps were taken to investigate the unauthorized disclosure and to remediate it.

Further, the candidate informed the Town that the personal information was collected by the candidate’s election campaign team through field observations and campaign notes, and that the candidate has addressed the unauthorized disclosure with the person responsible for the unauthorized disclosure.

The candidate’s election campaign team will contact all of the approximately 64 affected individuals by the end of this week to notify them of the unauthorized disclosure of their personal information.

The Town understands that the candidate and their elections campaign team have introduced measures to prevent a future unauthorized disclosure, the statement adds.

In a social media post Mayoral candidate Trevor Menard made Thursday, he stated his team advised him the evening before of the situation.

His statement notes it had come to his attention information contained within the Voters List provided for the 2026 Town of Essex Election may have been shared with individuals who should not have been in receipt of that information. In addition, he had been made aware of allegations that the home addresses of individuals supporting his campaign were shared publicly through social media.

“I take these concerns very seriously,” he stated.

“Residents should be able to participate in our democratic process, support the candidate of their choosing, and place a sign on their property without worrying that their personal information or home addresses will be improperly distributed or publicly shared,” Menard added.

“I am upset and disappointed that this has occurred, and I believe everyone involved deserves answers.”

Menard wrote he would bring the concerns to Town administration, and, where appropriate, the OPP or other relevant authorities. At the time of the posting of the statement, Menard noted he would not speculate publicly who may be responsible while the matter was investigated. The appropriate authorities should establish what occurred, how the information was obtained, and whether any rules or laws were breached.

Menard apologized to those who may have had their personal information exposed.

“We can disagree politically. We can debate passionately. But, we should never lose sight of the responsibility we have to treat one another – and the people of the Town of Essex – with respect,” he added.

Mayoral candidate, incumbent Sherry Bondy, posted a video to her social media account on Friday, where she warned her supporters that campaigns are hard and can get ugly.

She said she spoke to the police, Town staff, and her lawyer for a potential slander lawsuit.

“I want to make sure residents know that protecting personal information really matters to me and my campaign. When the post that everyone is talking about was brought to our attention, it came down right away.

“We looked at what happened, we tightened how our volunteers handle information, and we fully cooperated with Town Hall,” Bondy said.

Bondy said 31 names were posted from a volunteer – somebody she said was helping her with her campaign – that included names of residents and addresses with campaign notes.

Bondy said she – like many others – keeps data. That includes her own sign locations and data on other candidates’ sign locations.

She said she wants to know the areas she is not supported and if something changed.

“To me, data is powerful.”

What was shared, she said, was not the Voters List provided by the Clerk. “It was realized it wasn’t appropriate to post and it was removed immediately.”

Over the years, Bondy said she has safeguarded elections; one was to ensure loopholes in relation to proxy voting were closed after that was investigated during the 2018 Municipal Election.

“When you have an election sign in your front yard, people know who you are voting for, potentially. Maybe you don’t vote for that person, but you are making a public statement.

“I very much say that there was a mishap, and we addressed it. Just like a leader should. Things happen. We all know things happen. I immediately addressed it. I followed the advice of Town Hall.”