Four Townships, Four Election Scenarios

Jeff Green | Sep 14, 2022

Is there a defining issue in the municipal election in your township?

Probably not, but each township in the Frontenac News readership area is in a somewhat different place, and this might make a difference for voters in the various districts.

By way of preview, we look at each township and at the ward/district contests.

Addington Highlands

In Addington Highlands, stability has been the order of the day, both in terms of political and administrative leadership, for a number of years.

Throughout COVID and beyond, the community and the township infrastructure have been able to withstand both the pandemic and some weather-related disasters.

All of the incumbents on the 5 member Addington Highlands Council are running again. But there are contests for every position, and the results of the election may change the complexion of council.

Reeve Hogg has been in place for 21 of the 24-year existence of the township (he did not run in the 2004 election). He is running again, for a seventh term. He defeated Alice Madigan in the 2018 election, polling 54% to Madigan's 46%, a margin of 116 votes.*

In Ward 1 (Denbigh) the sitting councillors, Tony Fritsch and Kirby Thompson, are running for a 4th and 3rd term, respectively. The third candidate is a newcomer to municipal politics, but he has attended more Addington Highlands Council meetings than either of the incumbents because he was the Public Works Manager for the township for almost 20 years. Royce Rosenblath is also a lifelong local resident and, so the race between the three candidates could come down to who has the confidence of their neighbours, in a race where a few votes here and there could make a significant difference.

An all candidates meeting for ward 1 is scheduled for October 13 at the Denbigh Hall at 7pm.

In Ward 2, (Kaladar) there will be no rookies on council after the election, but there could be some changes. Long serving incumbent Helen Yanch, and one term councillor David Miles, have been joined in the race by former council member and one term Reeve Ken Hook. Hook last served on council as Reeve from 2004 to 2006 (Ontario municipalities change from 3 year to 4 years terms of council starting with the 2006 election)

Bill Cox is running as well. He served on council for two terms, the ran for Mayor in 2014, and lost out to Reeve Hogg. He is also attempting to make a come back.

An All-candidates meeting is scheduled for October 4 at the Flinton Recreation Centre/township office for Ward 2, starting at 7pm.

There will me much more about each of the Addington Highlands candidates in our AH election primer, which will be published either on September 22, or September 29

North Frontenac

North Frontenac has seen administrative changes over the past year, with the retirement of Chief Administrative Officer Cheryl Robson, but instead of looking elsewhere for a replacement, council promoted Cory Klatt to the role. Klatt has been with the township for about 15 years.

North Frontenac is in a solid financial position. It has periodically had a strained relationship with Frontenac County, partly because, as small communities ‘north of 7’, much of the commercial ties in north Frontenac are east-west ties, to Perth and Tweed, whereas much of the rest of Frontenac County is strongly connected to Kingston.

All of the current members of North Frontenac Council are running again, so things may look very familiar when the new council is sworn in come late November, save for a new member of council to replace Fred Perry, who's position was left vacant after he died over the summer. Unlike in 2018, when all of the candidates were acclaimed, there are contest in all three wards, so change could be coming.

Gerry Lichty is challenging two term incumbent Ron Higgins for Mayor.

Higgins will have the benefit of incumbency, and he has been an active Mayor over the past 8 years.

The only time that he has faced an election, however, was in 2014. He was one of two newcomers to local politics running for Mayor that year, after the death of Bud Clayton. His opponent was Claudio Valentini, who ran an aggressive anti-establishment campaign, which included a proposal to repeal the code of conduct and procedural bylaws of the township.

His opponent this time is Gerry Lichty, who is a newcomer to municipal politics. Lichty has been involved in the resurgence and refurbishment of the Snow Road Hall, and is well known in his home ward (ward 3) but it is the least populated ward in the township and he will need to garner support in the Plevna/Ardoch area, as well as in the Cloyne area, where most of the voters live. There are many more seasonal residents that permanent residents in North Frontenac, but voter turnout among seasonals has always been very low, even with Internet voting.

In Ward 1 (Barrie), there are two new candidates, as well as long serving incumbent Wayne Good, seeking the two spots on council. Stephanie Regent and Mike Hage are both business people who have come in to the in the last couple of years, taking over and re-invigorating long established businesses, Finnegan's (formerly Grand's Store) in Regent's case and Myers Cave Resort in Hage's case.

The all candidates meeting in ward 1 is set for Thursday, September 22 at Barrie Hall, (Cloyne) at 7pm

In Ward 2 (Clarendon-Miller) Roy Huetl is trying to unseat either Vernon Hermer or Gerry Martin, who are both multiple term incumbents.

The all candidates meeting in ward 2 takes place on Thursday, October 13 at the Clar-Mil Hall, (Plevna) at 7pm

It is a similar story in Ward 3, where Kevin McCann is challenging Fred Fowler and John Inglis.

The ward 1 all candidates meeting has already been held, on Wednesday, September 14, at the Ompah Hall

There will me much more about each of the North Frontenac candidates in our NF election primer, which will be published on September 29

Central Frontenac

Central Frontenac is the only township in Frontenac County with any real financial issues. The township maintains solid reserve funds, but has reached the upper reaches of its borrowing capacity and already has the highest tax rate in the county, so financially issues are always of concern. For example, Central Frontenac has the least advantageous ratio of property assessment to kilometres of roadway in Frontenac County, and roads are the most expensive piece of municipal infrastructure.

On the other hand, after a long time period when a number of senior staff positions were changing often, stability at the management level has been achieved in the township. A new Official Plan is in place and the level of building activity is at an all time high. Still, the electorate may be volatile this time around.

Central Frontenac will have the same Mayor for the next four years, Frances Smith, will serve a third as no one stepped forward to oppose her for the second election in a row.

The same cannot be said for any of the four District elections.

In District 1 (Kennebec) there will be at least one new councillor as Tome Dewey is not seeking re-election. Cindy Kelsey is seeking a third term, however. There are four other candidates in the race. One of them is Logan Murray, who has been the Kennebec Councillor in the past, and Isaac Hale, who ran in 2018. The other two, Lynne Klages, and Jordan Chatwin are running for the first time.

The Kennebec all candidates meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 5 at Kennebec Hall (Arden)

In District 2 (Olden) there will also be at least one new council member. Philip Smith, who was appointed to council following the death of Elwyn Burke, is running, but in Hinchinbrooke district, leaving Victor Heese as the only incumbent in Olden. The two other candidates are Bill Everett, who ran in 2018, and Danny Meeks, who has a family history in local politics as his late grand father Fred Smith was the Frontenac County warden many years ago, and his father Archie was served on council as well.

The all candidates meeting in Olden will take place on Tuesday, September 27 at the Olden Hall (Mountain Grove)

In District 3 (OSO) there will be a lively race. Sherry Whan is not running for re-election, leaving Bill MacDonald as the only incumbent. Three other candidates are contesting the race. Susan Irwin is the recently retired lead lawyer with The Legal Clinic, a not-for-profit service. Duncan McGregor, the youngest candidate in the race, works at North Frontenac Telephone Company, and Craig Middleton is lifelong Sharbot Lake resident.

The all candidates meeting in Oso takes place on Tuesday, September 20 at the Sharbot Lake/Oso/Soldiers Memorial Hall at 7pm.

Finally in District 4 (Hinchinbroooke) both of the incumbents, Nicki Gowdy and Brent Cameron are seeking re-election. Philip Smith, who has represented the district in the past, is running to unseat at least one of them, and political newcomer Bob Brooks is running as well.

The all candidates meeting in Hinchinbrooke takes place tonight, September 15, at the Piccadilly Hall at 7pm

There will be much more about all of the candidates in Central Frontenac in our CF Election Primer, slated for publication on October 6.

South Frontenac

South Frontenac has enjoyed a long period of steady growth, and as the largest of the Frontenac Townships in population and property assessment, the township has been able to keep tax increases low while improving infrastructure and maintaining service levels. Extras like granting programs for lake associations and local groups are things that other Frontenac townships cannot afford, but South Frontenac can. This election comes as the township is working on a new official plan, the first full re-write since 2001. Claire Dodds, the Director of Development Services and lead driver of the Official Plan Process has just left the township for a job in Huron County. The township could be at a cross roads, as development pressure, driven by its proximity to Kingston, comes up against the traditional rural lifestyle that residents have become accustomed to.

These issues will be facing the new council when they take office.

There are three candidates for Mayor in South Frontenac. Ron Vandewal is seeking his third term, and he is being opposed by two people who have both served on council with him. Mark Schjerning is the recently retired Director Emergency Services/Chief of Paramedic Services, in Lennox and Addington. He served as Loughborough Councillor between 2014 and 2017, and ran for Mayor in 2018, finishing in second place. Alan Revill is the former Chief Building Official for South Frontenac, who has served two terms as Councillor in Bedford District. For the last four years, he has also served as a member of Frontenac County Council.

In Storrington District, incumbents Ron Sleeth and Norm Roberts are seeking re-election. They are being challenged by Phil Archambault, who ran for Mayor in 2018, finishing third, as well as newcomers Mark Erdman and Susan Quenneville.

The all candidates meeting in Storrington will take place on Thursday, September 29 at the Battersea United Church Hall at 7pm

In Loughborough there will be at least one new councillor as Ross Sutherland is not seeking re-election. Randy Ruttan, a one term incumbent, is trying to remain on council. Mark Segsworth, the former Public Works manager for the township, is taking the leap into politics, as is another first-time candidate, Scott Trueman.

The all candidates meeting in Loughborough will take place on Wednesday, September 28 at the Sydenham Legion Hall at 7pm.

In Portland District, both of the incumbents, Ray Leonard and Doug Morey, are running again. Gary McColman and Shane Peters are seeking to mix things up in Portland.

The all candidates meeting in Portland will take place at the Verona Lions Hall on Wednesday, September 21 at 7pm.

Finally, in Bedford District there is a contested election for the first time in 8 years, and it will result in two new councillors being elected. Incumbent Alan Revill is running for Mayor, and John McDougall, who was appointed to replace Pat Barr when she died in office, is not running. Four people are seeking the two positions: including Charlene Godfrey, Steve Pegrum, Adam Turcotte and Nathan Hannah. All four are making their first run at municipal politics.

The Bedford all candidates meeting will take place on Thursday, October 6  at Glendower Hall at 7pm.

There will me much more about each of the South Frontenac candidates in our SF election primer, which will be published on October 13.

The election primers will all be posted at Frontenacnews.ca in advance of their publication in print

(Note - this document was edited to replace a wrong date for the Bedford District All candidates meeting in the print version of the Frontenac News that was published on September 15)

*This information was incorrect in the print edition of this article, where it said that Reeve Hogg was unopposed in 2018.