Feature Article January 8, 2003
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Mayor Phil Leonard winding up his municipal careerby Jeff GreenAfter 21 years in municipal politics, South Frontenac Mayor Phil Leonard will be sitting out this years municipal election in November. When the new council gets together on the first Monday in December, therell be a new mayor, he said in an interview this week. Leonard, who has made no secret of his retirement plans over the past year, said that at the age of 51, with his first grandchild on the way, it was time to spend more time with family. He was first elected to Portland Council in the early 80s, then spent four terms as Reeve before becoming mayor of the amalgamated South Frontenac Township for its first two councils. He describes the amalgamation process, which was forced into being by the provincial government as a shot gun wedding. Getting four municipalities together was not easy, and a lot of the costs didnt change. My biggest job as Mayor was to be there with everybody, not to favour any district over the other. Leonard also says that most of South Frontenac is amalgamated; its just in four functions that it is not. He defends the area rating that took place when South Frontenac came about. Area rating has meant that budgets for roads, fire and emergency services, among other things, have been determined by the two district councillors and the mayor rather than the council as a whole. Area rating has worked very well. Take a case like Portland, where we had raised taxes to pave highways 20 years ago. People there said weve already paid for roads once; we dont want to pay for them again. But eventually things will change, and area rating will no longer be necessary, Leonard said. Looking forward to his final year, Leonard said he expects the KP Trail to be something Council will look at, along with issues that are sure to arise. Asked whether his retirement from municipal politics meant a retirement from politics, Leonard confirmed he has been approached about possibly running for office both federally and provincially, and Ill always leave the door open. If a provincial election should come about this year, however, Leonards candidacy seems unlikely. I love South Frontenac, he concluded, Ill be there until the first meeting of December. Thats my plan."
