WALLINGFORD MAYOR DICKINSON WON’T SEEK 21ST TERM

Wallingford — Republican Mayor William Dickinson said his 40th year as mayor will be his last.

Dickinson said that every election year he determines whether he has the ability and willingness to serve for another two years. Facing a 21st term, he said he decided the answer for the first time in 40 years was no.

“It’s a two-year term and I believe that if I run for that office I’m prepared to devote my energies and time to the town’s business for two years. I find at this time I just cannot commit to two years,” he said.

Dickinson said that, following a 40-year career as mayor, he “can’t point to one thing or another” as his fondest memory, but he was appreciative of the time and effort all municipal leaders put into the job.

“It’s a very challenging, meaningful role that the mayor or first selectman or anyone in town government is asked to play. It’s a role that affects many people, who decides how to spend public money — which is a major responsibility by itself, making sure you’re spending money for worthwhile purposes and at the same time asking people to pay their money in taxes and they’re trusting it’ll be spent properly in the public good,” he said. “It’s work that is challenging but interesting.”

Although submitting a balanced budget annually that provides the public services residents expect has been Dickinson’s charge for 40 years, he said his successor will be challenged with what he sees as a relatively new emerging trend: an increased difficulty in attracting and retaining city employees who are willing to work for the schools district and the police and fire service.