She had served on the board of directors of the Carleton Heights and Area Residents Association, chaired the McGregor Easson Community School Council/Advisory Committee, she was involved with the community newspaper, she was a member of the Girl Guides of Canada for 10 years, including a 5-year term as District Commissioner, she was the chair of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority,[3] she represented the Eastern Region of Conservation Authorities on Provincial Association's Standing Committee on Communications, and she chaired the Volunteer Advisory Committee of the Sawmill Creek Watershed Study.
Stewart ran on a platform of freezing taxes for three years, cutting some discretionary social services (including "sharply (reducing) funding for arts"),[5] and protecting urban parks and greenway corridors.
[10] In her first term, Stewart served as vice president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and was a members of its environment committee.
[12] When the regional government was abolished, Stewart was elected to represent the same ward on Ottawa City Council in 2000.
[3] She ran on a platform of reducing municipal spending, treating more storm water, building an artificial wetland around the Trail Road landfill, and a new police centre in her ward.