The 155 Election Podcast project returns for the 2026 municipal election. TPR’s podcast is called The 155 because there were 155 registered candidates for all races during the 2018 election, and the project’s goal is to interview every candidate in every race.
As part of our commitment to public service, The 155 includes brief interviews with all candidates seeking election to the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic School Board.
The 155 gives voters a consistent, side-by-side way to compare candidates.
Candidates are provided with a list of questions in advance of the interviews. Publishing these questions publicly — rather than keeping them secret — is intentional: some candidates share campaign managers across multiple wards, meaning question themes could otherwise leak between campaigns regardless of any effort TPR made to keep them confidential. Making the full list public removes that advantage and ensures every candidate, regardless of campaign resources, has equal access to what will be asked.
Interviews will begin on August 14 in the eastern wards (4, 5, 9, 10, 11) and end with mayoral interviews on September 24. Following this, podcasts will be posted in batches as editing is completed, beginning September 25.
The following are the questions candidates are being asked to answer.
The School Board Trustee Questions
- Who is [YOUR NAME]?
- Before I ask you why you are running, can you first explain what a school board trustee is?
- Why are you running for trustee, and why should people elect you?
- What three skills have you demonstrated that make you the best choice to be entrusted with the role of [Ward] [Public/Catholic] School Board Trustee?
- What two policy or practice changes do you want to pursue in your four-year term on the Board?
- As a school board trustee, your duty is to ensure the best quality of education across the system. How will you manage a staff recommendation to close a school in your ward that staff argues will improve outcomes system-wide?
- How will you inspire public confidence?
- It’s 2030. The Public Record is writing an assessment of your performance in the past four years. What three words do you hope will describe your term on the Board?
- Thank you, that’s the end of the prepared questions you were sent in advance. How can people learn more about your platform and connect with you?
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: August 13, 2026
Last updated: August 13, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version
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