Smith set to make Frontenac County History as first 4-term warden

Jeff Green | Dec 20, 2023

Frances Smith has been elected Warden of Frontenac County. Her term will run until December 2024. Ron Vandewal, who just ended a year in the Warden position, will serve as Deputy Warden in 2024.

“I’d like to thank my fellow Frontenac County Councillors for selecting me as 2024 Warden,” says Smtih. “This will be an exciting year. We have a new strategic plan in place, a newly renovated Frontenac County administrative building almost ready, and upcoming changes in County staff leadership to navigate. We have our work cut out for us and I’m eager to continue it together on behalf of every Township and constituent in Frontenac County,” Smith said upon her election this morning (December 20, 2023) at the monthly meeting of Council.

Since Frontenac County was formed in 1865, with one exception, an election for Warden has been held annually.

And over 159 years, only 5 women have held the position. The first was Dorothy Gaylord in 1976, followed by Barbara Sproule in 1982, and Isabel Turner in 1992. Frances Smith served her first term as warden in 1996, and again in 2016 and 2020. Janet Gutowski served in 2009, and again in 2012 and 2013. The 2013 term for Gutowski was controversial because at the end of 2012 she did not step down, as had been the custom for 147 years at that point. But since it was not required in the county bylaws, she remained in place for a second year, citing a need for continuity, before stepping down at the end of 2013.

While over 100 men have held the post, the only one to have served for more years than Frances Smith will have served after 2024, was Phil Leonard.

However, of the 5 years that Leonard served as Head of Council, two were during the post-amalgamation time frame when Frontenac County had dissolved and been replaced by a Management Board, meaning while he was head of council in 2001 and 2002, Phil Leonard was Frontenac County Warden 3 times, in 1991, 1998, and 2003.

The term of Warden is now officially a one-year appointment, so South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal stepped down this week after serving his third term as Warden (2017, 2021, and 2023) making way for Smith to set the new record.

The position of Warden carries many obligations, some of them ceremonial, and in recent years the number of regional and provincial meetings that require the Warden’s attendance, including meetings of the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus and with ministry officials, have increased.

2024 promises to be an extra challenge for Warden Smith, as Kelly Pender, the experience Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Frontenac County, has indicated he plans to resign in the first few months of the year. The CAO accompanies the Warden to most provincial meetings, and provides council to the Warden.

In his remarks at the Warden’s banquet two weeks ago, outgoing Warden Vandewal made a particular point regarding the support Pender provided to him as Warden in all three of his one year terms.

By the summer, Frances Smith may indeed be the experienced hand offering support to a newly minted Frontenac County CAO.