SD&G – Two SDG Counties councillors have expressed interest in leading the United Counties in 2026.
During Monday’s meeting (July 21), Councillor Jason Broad (South Dundas) and Councillor Frank Landry put their names forward to be warden next year.
“I would like to express my interest for the role as warden for 2026 and I’m sure over the next month we’ll have conversations with everybody,” Broad chuckled.
Broad has never served as warden as he first entered politics in 2022 when he was elected mayor of South Dundas.
“I guess the same so I’m expressing my interest as warden as well. We have AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) and we’ll get a chance to have some good conversations,” Landry added in his expression.
Landry has served at least three terms on North Stormont council, elected as councillor in 2014, deputy mayor in 2018 and mayor in 2022. He has never been warden.
Then Councillor Jamie MacDonald put up his hand.
“I would like to formally express my interest in congratulating the two candidates in the upcoming election,” MacDonald said to laughs from fellow councillors.
Outgoing Warden Martin Lang felt like he was “just getting into this wardenship and kinda getting my feet wet and kinda know what I’m doing now a little bit” and now it’s time to pick a new leader.
Lang said it was helpful to do the process earlier in the year to have the new warden shadow the outgoing leader.
A formal nomination and election will happen at the next council meeting (Aug. 25).
An inauguration ceremony will happen Dec. 12.