South Frontenac Mayor’s race is on

Jeff Green | Jun 06, 2018

1 term Loughborough Councillor Mark Schjerning to challenge incumbent Ron Vandewal

As voting day in the Provincial election comes and goes, the second election of 2018 is just starting to round into view. The municipal vote takes place in October. Nominations opened on May 1st and will close at the end of July. In order to run for either Mayor or for member of Council, 25 signatures from people eligible to vote in the township where the nominee is running need to accompany the application, along with $100 for council member and $200 for head of council (Mayor or Reeve). Most of the candidates who have come forward thus far are seeking re-election in the same position they already hold, but in South Frontenac there is a notable exception.

Mark Schjerning, one of two Loughborough District councillors who are finishing up their first terms on council, along with Ross Sutherland, is attempting to replace Mayor Ron Vandewal and become the 5th Mayor in the 20 year history of South Frontenac Township.

Schjerning spends his days in the municipal world as well. He works out of Napanee as the Chief of Emergency Services and a member of the senior management team for the County of Lennox and Addington. He is also the President of the Sydenham Lake Association, and is involved with South Frontenac Scouts.

In seeking the Mayor’s job, Schjerning effectively guarantees a change in the makeup of South Frontenac Council. If he wins there will be a new Mayor, and whether he wins or loses, there will be at least one new councillor for Loughborough District.

As of Tuesday of this week, in addition to the two candidates for Mayor, both incumbents in Bedford District, Pat Barr and Alan Revill, are seeking re-election. In Loughborough, incumbent Ross Sutherland is the only candidate thus far, and similarly in Storrington only incumbent Norm Roberts has filed his paper work. Just this afternoon, at 4:25, Portland District incumbent Brad Barbeau, who was appointed to council upon the death of Councillor Bill Robinson, has filed his nomination papers. There will be a contested election in Portland because Ray Leonard and Doug Morey also filed their papers at the end of May. Suzanne Ruttan is seeking re-election as Limestone School Board Trustee, and Leslie Ford is seeking the trustee position in the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic School Board.

In other townships the candidates lists are filling up, slowly. In Central Frontenac, Mayor Frances Smith is seeking re-election, as is Councillor Tom Dewey in Kennebec (ward1). Victor Heese is seeking re-election in Olden (ward 2), as is Bill Macdonald in Oso (Ward 3). In Hinchinbrooke, (ward 4) Philip Smith is running again, and Nicki Gowdy is a rookie candidate, but she is not a total stranger to Central Frontenac politics. Her uncle, Bill Snyder, was a very long serving member of council who died while still in office. Finally, Karen McGregor is seeking re-election to the Limestone District School Board.

In North Frontenac, Mayor Higgins is seeking re-election, as is Councillor Gerry Martin in Ward 2 (Clar-Mil) and Fred Perry in Ward 1 (Barrie).

There will be a showdown for Reeve in Tay Valley, as former Deputy Reeve Susan Freeman is running for Reeve, as is incumbent Keith Kerr. Barry Crampton is running for Deputy Reeve, Fred Dobbie and Wayne Jordan are running in Bathurst Ward, and Mark Burnham and Rob Rainer in Sherbrooke.

In Addington Highlands, Reeve Hogg is running for re-election.

Finally, Mayor Dennis Doyle of Frontenac Islands has decided to run again, and Bruce Higgs is running on Howe Island.