Early Election News
NF, SF Mayors plan to run again, CF Mayor to Retire, AH Reeve UndecidedThe mayors of two out of three Frontenac County townships have indicated that they are at least considering running for re-election, while a third has announced her intention to retire from municipal politics at the end of the current term of council, in November of this year.
And recently appointed Addington Highlands Reeve Tony Fritsch will decide later in the year.
As reported at the time, Central Frontenac Mayor Frances Smith announced at the beginning of a council meeting on November 25, that she will not be running for re-election next May, ending her 40+ year association with municipal politics, where she has served in senior staff and political roles, including a 12 year stint as mayor of Central Frontenac.
North Frontenac Mayor Gerry Lichty has indicated that he intends to run for a second term this year, but has not made a formal announcement of his intentions.
Mayor Ron Vandewal of South Frontenac has said: "There are some major projects that we have been working on for several years that I would love to see completed, so at this point I plan if elected, to go one more term."
In Central Frontenac, Councillor Nicki Gowdy, from Ward 4 (Hinchinbrooke) considered running for mayor in 2022, but ultimately ran for a second term on council, but has indicated she intends to run for mayor in 2026.
Gowdy has now confirmed that. In an email to the News early this week, she answered a question about her election plans in this way: “After gaining the experience and understanding as a councillor, I understand what residents need in Central Frontenac, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to represent them as mayor.”
There are two candidates for council who have declared they are planning to submit their nomination, Donald Morton and Arthur Hannigan.
But for the first four months of the year, the election is not technically under way. The first day for candidate registration is May 1st, and the nomination period ends on August 21. It is only after that date that the final field will be set.
Addington Highlands Reeve Tony Fritsch said that he is still learning about the new role, two months after taking it on. He said he does not know what his plans are for the next term at this time, but that he will decide in the coming months if he wants to run again for Reeve, and will let people know when he has decided, which will be well before the August nomination deadline
