Decision made
Bill Martin will not run again for Summerside’s mayoralty
Summerside Mayor Bill Martin has decided — or at least reaffirmed — his decision not to take a second run at the city’s top job.
While on the campaign trail in 2014, Martin made it clear he would only be committing to run for one term as mayor, and while he did not completely rule out a second run he did allude to it being unlikely.
However, four years is a long time in politics, and many things can change.
That may be true, said Martin, but his original one-term-only commitment is not one of those things.
It was still a tough decision. Being mayor has consumed the past four years of his life, and there are many aspects of the job that he treasures.
“Being the mayor and being the face of the city has been a true honour … it’s something I take a great deal of pride in,” he told the Journal Pioneer.
“There will be lots of things I will miss. I have the kind of personality where I like to have a lot of balls up in the air — and there are a lot of balls up in the air right now.”
“Does the thought occur to me that I should stay on and see some of these projects to fruition? Yes. Will it influence my decision to run? No.”
“I’ll be leaving with a sense of accomplishment and pride.”
Also playing into his decision was a desire to slow his life down a bit, said Martin.
Prior to 2014 he had been employed full-time with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation and operated, along with his wife, Josette, the Water Street Bakery here in the city.
He retired from the foundation and became mayor shortly thereafter.
He’s going to be 71 in a few months, he said, and he’d like to take a step back.
Martin added that he has been frank with those who have been approaching him recently, asking if he intended to run again.
As such, word has been circulating about the lack of an incumbent in the Nov. 5. 2018, municipal election.
Martin said he is aware of at least three or four credible candidates who intend to seek the job.
“You’re going to have a real horse race to replace me — which is great. These people will bring divergent views, they’ll bring different perspectives, they’ll bring different experiences,” he said.
Whoever does replace him will, of course, have their work cut out for them, but he or she will also be on the cusp of some exciting projects that the current council has been working on, said Martin.
“The kinds of things I’d like to see accomplished in 2019 and 2020 will be well underway by October 2018,” he said.
Being mayor is not an easy job, he warned, especially if you commit wholly to it.
“I was led to believe that it could easily be done half-time. I’m not saying it can’t. But I’m not sure you can get everything you want to accomplish done if you sort of approach it as a halftime job. Because there is a lot going on,” he said.
With that in mind, Martin said he is still focusing on the task at hand for the next 10 months.
There is a lot to be done between now and then. Council is scheduled to start its budget deliberations next week and, a quick look at Martin’s day planner shows a long list of meetings and events.
“It’s grueling, but it’s always very meaningful,” he said.
“There will be lots of things I will miss. I have the kind of personality where I like to have a lot of balls up in the air — and there are a lot of balls up in the air right now.” Mayor Bill Martin