Municipal election profile: Rawlson King
Councillor candidate, Ward 13
With the 2026 municipal election coming up Oct. 26, the Chronicle reached out to candidates with a series of questions, in a bid to help readers get better acquainted with those vying for their votes.
The following is a profile of Ward 13 (Rideau-Rockcliffe) councillor candidate Rawlson King (incumbent).
Who are you?
I’m Rawlson King, and I’ve had the honour and privilege of serving the residents of Rideau-Rockcliffe as their City Councillor for the past seven years. I have used the opportunity to articulate a strong and effective voice at City Hall to tackle the complex challenges confronting our neighbourhoods. Over seven years, I’ve produced real results through dedicated advocacy, collaborative leadership, and an unwavering commitment to listen to Ward 13 residents.
Why am you running?
The work is not finished. During my time in office, I’ve helped facilitate nearly $400 million in infrastructure investments and $120 million for affordable housing within the ward. I championed Ottawa’s first anti-racism office and strategy, advanced poverty reduction and food security policies, and successfully advocated to extend the ANCHOR (Alternate Neighbourhood Crisis Response) program to our ward. I’m running to build on this foundation, because Ward 13 deserves a councillor who shows up, listens, and delivers.
Key issues in Ward 13
If re-elected, I will continue to fight for the priorities that matter most to Ward 13 residents. I will keep working to improve affordability in housing and for better efficiency and reliability in transit, and encourage good development and responsible land use that serves our communities. Road safety and transportation remain critical, and I will continue pushing for meaningful improvements across the ward. I am committed to creating more green space and better recreational amenities so that families and seniors have vibrant places to gather and thrive. And I will continue to advocate for holistic community safety, including crime prevention, improved police interactions with racialized and faith-based communities, and better City responses to homelessness and mental health crises.
Three city-wide issues that will be my continuing key areas of focus will include:
- Effective Transit: Ottawa residents depend on reliable public transit, and the LRT system and bus network must be held to a higher standard. I will continue pushing for a transit network that is more frequent, dependable, and accessible to all.
- Affordable Housing: The housing crisis demands bold action, including non-profit housing development and sustained city investment.
- Mental Health and Homelessness: Programs like ANCHOR (Alternate Neighbourhood Crisis Response) prove that compassionate, community-based crisis response works. Ottawa must expand these models city-wide and improve support systems for vulnerable residents.
I look forward to many productive conversations I will have with residents over the course of this election campaign. You can learn more about my platform at www.rawlsonking.ca.