Election for Mayor and all four Wards in Central Frontenac

Voters throughout Central Frontenac will have a choice for both mayor and the two councillors in their home ward this October.

The race for mayor has been set since early this summer. Nicki Gowdy, who has served on council from Hinchinbrook for two terms, since she was elected in 2018, and has been the council rep to Frontenac County Council for the last four years, declared her intention to run for mayor at the beginning of the year, and registered in early May. Gowdy works for Rural Frontenac Community Services as the coordinator of Frontenac Transportation Services and in the finance department as well. She is a lifelong resident of Godfrey.

Susan Irwin, who has served on council for Oso since 2022, registered for the top job in early July. Irwin is the former director of The Legal Clinic, and is the current Board Chair of Rural Frontenac Community Services and Board member with the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team. Irwin moved to the Sharbot Lake area almost 40 years ago, in the late 1980s.

Frances Smith, who was elected to the position of mayor, over then incumbent Janet Gutowski in 2014, and was acclaimed to the position in 2018 and 2022, is not running for re-election.

In Ward 1, (Kennebec) long serving Councillor Cindy Kelsey, and one-term Councillor Lynn Klages, are both running for re-election, as is new candidate Chase Matson.

In Ward 2, (Olden) one-term councillors Danny Meeks and Bill Everett are seeking re-election, as are newcomers Edward Quinn and Ron Couchman.

In Ward 3, (Oso) Councillor Bill MacDonald, who was appointed to council this past spring when Duncan McGregor resigned from council, is seeking election. There are three new candidates as well: Meredith Peters, Lesley Merrigan, and Jessica Singer. Incumbent Councilor Susan Irwin, is vacating her position to run for mayor.

In Ward 4, (Hinchinbrooke) Councillor Philip Smith is seeking re-election, and former councillor Brent Cameron as well as former councillor and mayor, Janet Gutowski are attempting political comebacks. Incumbent Councillor Nicki Gowdy is vacating her position to run for mayor.