After more than two years advocating for a peaceful resolution to land claim conflicts between the City of Brantford and Six Nations, activist Jan Vanderstelt is taking a run at elected office.

Vanderstelt has filed his nomination papers to run for city council in Ward 1.

“Most of council is in the dark and the other half won’t tell you the truth,” Vanderstelt said. “We’re in debt and in freefall and we’re fighting with everybody. We need to build relationships.”

The 42-year-old artist and general contractor said the time has come for him to help make political change.

If elected, Vanderstelt said he would make sure the people are given a voice.

“I’m looking for people who have really good ideas,” Vanderstelt said. “I want to put the people back in politics. I want to put ourselves as a community back on the front burner.”

Vanderstelt’s campaign slogan is “changing together.”

In February 2009, Vanderstelt was thrust into the public spotlight after an alleged leak of information at city hall.

Coun. James Calnan was identified in an integrity commissioner's report as the source of a leak of information about a draft memorandum of understanding between the City of Brantford and Six Nations.

The investigation into the alleged leak was sparked by a voicemail Vanderstelt left for Mayor Mike Hancock the day of a Feb. 17, 2009, in-camera meeting where the memorandum of understanding was discussed.

In the message, Vanderstelt thanked Hancock, but made no specific reference to what he was thanking him for. The commissioner concluded that Vanderstelt was thanking the mayor for negotiating an agreement with Six Nations, which was not public knowledge at the time.

An integrity commissioner's report concluded that, based on a “balance of probabilities," Calnan was the source of the leak.

The leak was subsequently blamed for the failure of the draft agreement. Vanderstelt and Calnan have been adamant that Calnan was not the leak.

Vanderstelt has continued to advocate for a peaceful resolution to land claim disputes. He said part of the mess the city is in is the result of a court injunction against protests sought by the city. 

“From the beginning, I told them it’s a mistake,” Vanderstelt said.

The candidate said Brantford’s seeming inability to co-operate with its neighbours – both in the county and on Six Nations – cannot be allowed to continue.

“We want to build successes that Brantford can be proud of,” Vanderstelt said. “We just can’t get our act together and it’s embarrassing. Companies are going to surrounding communities.”

Vanderstelt has closed his art studio so he can devote the time needed to his campaign.

“Call it sacrifice, call it whatever," he said. "The opportunity to better serve holds precedence."

Vanderstelt and his wife, Linda, own Serenity Candles and have five children aged 14 to 18. 

Vanderstelt will officially launch his campaign Wednesday evening in Harmony Square. 

Vanderstelt is the fifth candidate to enter the Ward 1 race. Mary Ellen Kaye, Larry Kings, Coralia Tudor and Martin Sitko have already filed nomination papers. Current Coun. Jennifer Kinneman has announced she will not run in the election. Coun. Mark Littell is vying for the mayor’s seat.