| Sep 18, 2014


While most of the races for council and mayor in the region did not change much in the final days before the end of the nomination period at 2 pm last Friday, September 12, there were a few surprises.

For a list of all-candidates meetings, click here.

SOUTH FRONTENAC

In South Frontenac, the surprise was about the lack of entries in two wards, Bedford and Storrington. In both cases there are two candidates, who have been acclaimed and will be at the Council table on December 2, when the new four-year term starts.

Not only is it unusual for council seats to be uncontested; in this case three of the four candidates who have been acclaimed will be brand new councilors. In Bedford, Alan Revill will be a new councilor. Revill will be no stranger at the township office, however, since he was the chief building official for South Frontenac until he retired a couple of years back. Pat Barr, who was appointed to Council when Mark Tinlin resigned last year, will be returning. Barr ran for Council in 2010 and finished third behind Tinlin and Del Stowe, who did not seek re-election this time around.

In Storrington District, the two incumbents, Larry York and Cam Naish, stepped down, and only two people put their names forward. Norm Roberts and Ronald Sleeth have found themselves elected as first-time councilors without having to campaign.

There were no last minute changes in the three-way race to replace retiring Mayor Gary Davison. John McEwen, Allan McPhail and Ron Vandewal are all running for mayor.

There are three candidates in Portland: Bradley Barbeau and incumbents John McDougall and Bill Robinson.

There are six candidates for the two vacant Loughborough ward positions: Stephen Bach, Dave Plumpton, Mark Schjerning, Ross Sutherland, Terry Thake, and Frances Willes.

There are also three candidates for Limestone District School Board Trustee from South Frontenac: Lindsay Davidson, Lynda Hawn, and incumbent Suzanne Ruttan.

THE NORTH FRONTENAC SHUFFLE

There is no way around the fact that the North Frontenac election is being conducted under a dark cloud. The sudden death on September 1 of Mayor Bud Clayton, who had been seeking re-election, resulted in an outpouring of grief among members of council, township staff, as well as the township as a whole.

It also set in motion a chain reaction that has affected the mayor's race and the race in at least one of the wards. As we reported last week, Ron Higgins pulled his name as a candidate in Ward 2 and is running for mayor against Claudio Valentini. This guarantees that the new mayor will have no Council experience.

Once the dust settled last Friday, all the current members of council are running for re-election, although two have shuffled to new wards.

In Ward 1, incumbents Wayne Good and Fred Perry are both seeking re-election, and at the last minute, Lonnie Watkins, who is currently one of the councilors in Ward 2 submitted his name to run in Ward 1.

In Ward 2, Vernon Hermer and incumbent Gerry Martin were joined in the race by Betty Hunter, who is a current member of Council from Ward 3.

Meanwhile, in Ward 3, Denis Bedard and Fred Fowler are running, as is incumbent John Inglis.

QUIET RACE IN ADDINGTON HIGHLANDS

There were no last-minute changes to the race in Addington Highlands. The two candidates for reeve, Gerald Bray and long-time incumbent Henry Hogg both put their names in early in the year (Hogg doing so on January 2, the earliest opportunity).

In Ward 2 incumbents Bill Cox and Helen Yanch have been acclaimed to another term in office.

There is a four-way race in Ward 1, however. Eythel Grant and Alice Madigan stepped forward in early August, and Kirby Thompson and incumbent Tony Fritsch jumped in at the beginning of September.

CENTRAL FRONTENAC

In Central Frontenac, there was one late change, as Kirby Bertrim withdrew his name for Hinchinbooke ward.

There remains a two-way race for mayor between incumbent Janet Gutowski and long-time councilor Frances Smith, as well as crowded races in all four wards. The four-way race in Kennebec features Tom Dewey (incumbent), Cindy Kelsey, Jeff Matson (incumbent) and Logan Murray.

There are five candidates in Olden: Justin Gray, Victor Heese, John Purdon (incumbent), Jamie Riddell, and Cory Thompson.

There are five candidates in Oso as well: Bill MacDonald, Wayne Millar (incumbent), Bob Olmstead, Dennis Scott, and Sherry Whan.

There are also five candidates in Hinchinbrooke: Brent Cameron, Heather Fox (incumbent), Jim Lowery, Sharon Shepherd, and Phillip Smith (incumbent).

TRUSTEE RACES JOINED

Steve Magee was looking like the only candidate to replace Ann Goodfellow on the Limestone Board from South and North Frontenac and Addington Highlands, but with two days to go before the deadline, two others joined the race. They are David Kendall and Karen McGregor.

Wendy Procter is being contested for her long-held position as trustee for the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic School Board for Frontenac and L&A Counties by Jodi Cameron.

TAY VALLEY ACCLAMATIONS - NOT QUITE.

Until the last minute, South Sherbrooke ward incumbents Mark Burnham and Roxanne Darling were walking to re-election, but just before the deadline Neil Bova spoiled the party and put his name in, sparking an election campaign. As well, the race for deputy reeve is on now, as Mick Wicklum decided to contest incumbent Brian Campbell.

LANARK HIGHLANDS – three late candidates to fill empty seat

Until a day or two before the nomination period closed, there were no candidates for the Ward 5 council position in Lanark Highlands (formerly North Sherbrooke Township)

Then three people came forward: Bret Hogue, Jeannie Kelso, and Larry McPhee.

There is also a race for mayor between incumbent Peter McLaren and Brian Stewart and for deputy mayor between John Hall and Bob Mingie.

For a list of all-candidates meetings, click here.

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