By Maija Hoggett  Alliston Herald

NEW TECUMSETH – After sitting on New Tecumseth’s council for 15 years, Mayor Mike MacEachern won’t be seeking another term at the table.

MacEachern has been mayor for 10 years and announced today he won’t be seeking re-election in the October 2014 municipal election.

“After much thought, careful consideration and discussion, I have decided that I will not be seeking re-election,” MacEachern said in a press release. “I appreciate the opportunity to have served New Tecumseth first as a Councillor and then as Mayor. I look forward to the remainder of my term, and will continue to be dedicated in fulfilling my responsibilities as I was elected to do.”

He was first elected in 1998 as a councillor for Alliston and has been mayor since 2003.

“Over the years, each Council faced its challenges and worked hard for the community. The current Council is no exception, having just passed a responsible budget and set objectives and priorities for the coming year,” he said. “The future of New Tecumseth is bright and I hope that the next Mayor and Council will love our community as much as I do.”

MacEachern is the executive director of FOCUS Community Development Corporation and will continue on in the role with the non-profit organization.

While the municipal election isn’t until Oct. 27, current Alliston Coun. Jamie Smith has announced he intends to run for deputy mayor.

Smith planning to run for deputy mayor

By Brad Pritchard Alliston Herald Nov 06, 2013

NEW TECUMSETH – New Tecumseth Coun. Jamie Smith is taking a shot at the deputy mayor’s chair next year.

Smith currently represents Ward 2 in Alliston and was elected to council in 2003. He said he’d like to make a run for deputy mayor to help the municipality have more of an impact at the Simcoe County level.

“I thought it might not be a bad idea to move up, I think I could represent the town fairly strongly, particularly at the county,” he said.

Smith said his decision is also based on the possibility of current Deputy Mayor Rick Milne running for mayor next term. Milne has not publically stated what his intentions are for next year.

Smith said he is in the process of retiring from his law practice in Alliston, which would free up more of his time to serve as the deputy mayor.

Mayor Mike MacEachern told the Herald he hasn’t decided if he will seek a fourth term in office.

The next municipal election is Oct. 27, 2014. Municipal election candidacy papers for next year’s municipal election can be filed starting in January.