Feature Article October 23, 2003
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeMayors' Race a Grudge Match in Central FrontenacSix years ago Bill MacDonald defeated Howard Gibbs by a mere 16 votes in the first-ever Mayoralty election in Central Frontenac history. Three years ago, under the mail-in voting system that has been established, the spread was just over 100 votes, again in favour of MacDonald.
This time its going to be interesting, Howard Gibbs told the News, because theres only two of us running. Lloyd Lee got 770 votes last time, and those are up for grabs.
Bill MacDonald is running on the basis of his experience in dealing with a variety of issues, saying I want to commend the council of the past six years. I think we have worked very hard to build a public works department, to establish a functioning township, develop an Official Plan and bring 911 to the point it is at.
Howard Gibbs is a populist-style politician, often quoting the responses he has heard at peoples doors when asked his opinion on policy matters. For example, when asked about the one hectare minimum lot size for waterfront lots that is included in the townships Official Plan and zoning bylaw, Gibbs said it might be something to look at. Several people I talked to said they were going to be hurt by it, and they dont think its necessarily the right way to go for economic development. They think the lots could be smaller.
When asked whether the OPP service provided to the township is adequate, Gibbs again mentioned a conversation from a constituents front door. I was talking to a man in Hinchinbrooke ward who is a retired OPP officer and he said there isnt as much service here as in the past, but Im not certain if there is a great problem right now.
Bill MacDonald has made a point of emphasising his experience on County Council as important to the township, and has argued that the retirement of Mayor Phil Leonard in South Frontenac and Mayor Stan Johnston of North Frontenac make continuity at the County level an issue people should consider.
The County of Frontenac has a $21 million annual budget, is involved in the $18 million redevelopment of the Fairmount home, and is preparing to take the administration of the County and City Ambulance Service in house on January 1, 2004. As well, the City of Kingston has demanded arbitration in the Local Services Realignment agreement between them and the County, and is asking for $3 million more from the County, which would bankrupt us. The County is at a crossroads and there is only one representative at the County level from Central Frontenac, the mayor. I feel it is absolutely essential to have continuity at the County level at this time.
At the final All-Candidates meeting of the election, held at the Olden Community Hall, Howard Gibbs devoted a large portion of his opening address to the Mayors role at the County level and his qualifications for that role.
Mr. MacDonald has been involved with the County for the past six years, I agree, but I sat on County Council before that in the pre-amalgamation days. I was warden of the County and was the chairman of the Fairmount Home back in 1990. I know the clerk of the County, Liz Fulton, who is excellent, and I have no doubt she can bring me up to speed in a couple of weeks.
Another issue that has been raised during the campaign, which separates the two men, is the prospect of an at-large voting system replacing the current system of electing councillors from within four different wards.
At the Olden All-Candidates meeting, MacDonald said, Im totally in favour of at-large voting. I think that the public should be able to vote for everyone that represents them on council in the way they vote for the Mayor.
Howard Gibbs said People were telling me we would still like our own wards. Most of the people still like the ward system.
Both Howard Gibbs and Bill MacDonald have a significant amount of history in municipal politics. MacDonald thinks the terrain has changed so much that his hands-on experience of the past six years is crucial to the township over the next three years. Howard Gibbs, on the other hand, thinks his years as Reeve in the pre-amalgamation days will stand him in good stead should he be elected on November 10.
The mayoralty race, and interest issues such as taxes and road maintenance have injected interest into the campaign. The All-Candidates meeting in Olden filled the hall to the brim, while in the previous election only about 30 people showed up for the Olden meeting.
