MacEachern out the gate with first election announcement

New Tecumseth Free Press Online
At the end of an otherwise uneventful final New Tecumseth council meeting of the year (tonight’s budget is working session), mayor Mike MacEachern made what he termed an “out of character” announcement regarding his intentions to seek a third term of office.
“I’m going to settle some speculation and the ongoing discussion that’s being put forward with regard to what I’m doing, and I just want people to know because I do respect everyone of the council members that sit around this table and I do work with them on a regular basis. And though we don’t see eye to eye on every issue, we do get along and I do respect you. And I don’t want you to read this in the newspaper, so I thought I’d say it to you tonight that it is my intention next year when it is the opportune time and when I’m able to do it, that I will be filing to run for mayor again in the next election,” said mayor MacEachern. “Again, I just wanted you to know that I do respect each and every one of you and I wanted you to hear it from me first, rather than read about it in the newspapers.”
In an email this morning, the mayor explained the decision to reveal his reelection plans early in the process was a nod to anyone waiting to determine what he was going to do first.
“I wanted everyone to know what I was doing in fairness to everyone considering what they are going to do in the next municipal election,” he wrote.
One of those is deputy mayor Rick Milne, himself a former mayor, who has not made a secret of his desire to regain the mayor’s job.
Mr. Milne noted in an email this morning that he was “a little surprised” by Mr. MacEachern’s announcement “because I am hearing so many rumours from people that Mike wants to run provincially in the next election,” he wrote, adding, “I haven’t made a decision yet. I have a few people I want to speak with for advice before I make my decision.”
Candidates can begin registering with the Town Clerk on Mon., Jan. 4. The election is October 25.
As for the mayor, first elected in 2003, after serving two previous terms as Ward 1 councillor, said he’s running again because “I think I still have a lot to contribute to the Town and I think I do a good job of respecting people’s differences of opinion and building consensus.”