Press release from the mayor’s office:
(February 22, 2012) Halifax – Mayor Peter Kelly announced today that he will not be seeking re-election this October.
“I feel that, after 27 years of public service, I have made my contribution to the good of the community to the very best of my ability and it is time to seek new horizons,” he said.
Mayor Kelly said that he intends to complete his term.
“It has been a great privilege to be mayor of HRM and I will carry with me forever the spirit of goodwill that citizens have always shown me. They have been my constant guide and inspiration. The residents were always the best part of this job and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their advice, their support and also for their forgiveness when I have made mistakes, and I have made my fair share!.”
Mayor Kelly, 55, said he made his decision not to reoffer on Tuesday, after taking some personal time to reflect and to consult with his family.
“Being mayor has come with a cost,” he said. “Working more than 90 hours a week has taken its toll. My marriage has ended and it has been a strain on my family. I have always put the wellbeing of the municipality first but now it is time to give my family priority. I know that everyone will understand and respect my decision.”
Mayor Kelly said it would not be easy to walk away after so many years in office but that he felt it was time to move on.“I have always had the best interests of the community at heart and have been committed to making HRM the best place in Canada to live, work, learn and play.”
Mayor Kelly acknowledged that there had been stumbles along the way, not least being the issue of his duties as executor to the estate of his late friend, Mary Thibeault.“I am not making any excuses. Whatever problems have arisen have been because of my own tardiness and I am in the process of fulfilling her instructions,” he said. “Everything is accounted for and will be distributed according to her wishes.”
This article appears in Feb 16-22, 2012.
Yay!
Hooray!!!
So, does that mean that GhostFucker is gone as well? It’s kinda bittersweet, isn’t it? We don’t get to vote him out, he leaves in his own free will. http://www.constructiveanarchy.com/blog/01…
Wow! Who would have guessed just a few months ago that Kelly would be out. That cracks the mayoral race open. I wonder if some other contenders might throw their name in now that the pressure to rally around Savage as the “anyone but Kelly” candidate is gone.
Age 55 with 27 years in public office.
He’ll have almost 16 years at HRM and will qualify for a pension. If he bought prior years service and transferred his rights from his service at Bedford he will meet the rule of 80, age plus years of service, and get a nice income.
Now we need a real candidate to step forward. Someone with previous leadership experience in a large organisation and aged at least 55.
Bill Black, we need you for just 4 years.
Just like Anstey, he shouldn’t be allowed to stay to finish his term, he should be pressured out immediately!
Don’t let the door hit your ass/face on the way out.
Streatch says all that Peter Kelly is going through is a witch hunt and it’s not fair. Bull Mr. Streatch! It’s not only this estate thing. But then you are part and parcel of Peter Kelly’s court of fools! I don’t believe all the councillors are fools and are supportive of Peter Kelly, but any of the members of council that did dare to speak out or question Kelly, they were silenced. But the truth still got out, like in the the concert scandal, among other things for starters.
As far as the estate thing goes, did Streatch take the time to read all the info in The Coast? Better yet, if he doesn’t believe that, go down to probate court and see the originals for himself. Consider the fact that The Coast has been investigating for 11 months; how long ago the lady died; how long ago these people waited for Kelly to do his job as executor; the Florida trailer he lost; the piece of land in HRM; then they had to hire a lawyer. Instead, he did not contact some of the beneficiaries, he took money from the estate account and then wanted some sort of agreement before he put the money back, if he did put it back at all. Do I smell blackmail or whatever it is called??? I say this is the right time for all this information to come out. People need to know what kind of person he truly is, and like it or not, this behaviour is indicative of how he runs the HRM. For those followers who thought Peter Kelly had no flaws, they can see how he manipulates the truth, just plain doesn’t answer and lies.
WHat in the hell is he still doing as executor?? Since he has been so untrustworthy with all these dealings, why isn’t he removed? He tried to blame his job as mayor for his screwups. Well, he screwed that up too so was the estate to blame for his screwup as mayor? Or was it the concert scandals? Or, the sewage plant and on and on and on?? We all know he doesn’t have the set of rocks to do the right thing and resign!! Shame on you Peter Kelly… your just spinning more lies again!
Curiousity killed the cat… I’ll be waiting to see what comes out in the wash as far as Peter Kelly saying ‘everything is accounted for’.