Bain reveals he won’t run again for county warden

The Mayor of Mayors has announced he won’t run for the county council position he’s held for the past eight years.

Tom Bain’s announcement means Essex County will have a new face in the warden’s chair following municipal elections in October.

Bain is actually in his ninth year as warden when a one-year stint in 1993 is taken into consideration.

“It’s a seven days a week job,” Bain said Tuesday. “My wife and I have been talking about it and it’s time to spend a little more time with the family.”

The news broke Monday when Bain was asked about his future intentions at a Rotary Club meeting.

Amherstburg Mayor Aldo DiCarlo sits on county council with Bain.

DiCarlo said he always explains the warden’s position as “the Mayor of the Mayors” whenever he’s given a talk to school groups. “You can basically take the job of mayor and double it if you’re warden,” DiCarlo said.

“As one of the new people at county council it was very helpful to have somebody with Tom’s years and years of experience. I think he’s been a great ambassador for the region,” DiCarlo said.

Bain hasn’t made a final decision on another election run for his position as Mayor of Lakeshore although he said he’s “leaning 90 per cent” in that direction.

During his time as warden, Bain pointed to eliminating the county’s debt and building on the county’s relationship with the City of Windsor as two of his personal highlights.

He said two of the biggest challenges facing his successor, who will be elected by members of county council, will be the ongoing process of establishing a new regional hospital and the battle to expand Highway 3.

As for successors, Bain said the current county council roster is stocked with “a number of potential candidates.”

DiCarlo, for one, said “it might be a bit too early” for him to declare any desire to sit in the warden’s chair.

Ken Antaya, the deputy warden and mayor of LaSalle, said a number of things have to fall into place first.

Antaya said he hasn’t yet made a final decision to run for mayor again, a decision which will likely come in May.