A big political shakeup is on the horizon in Waterloo.
Mayor Brenda Halloran announced Wednesday that she won’t run in the 2014 municipal election.
Halloran, who was first elected in 2006, tells CTV News she never intended to spend more than two terms in office.
“Being mayor has been the best job I’ve ever had,” she says.
“I’ve always encouraged people to stretch the limits, to push themselves, to acquire new skills, to seek new challenges – I’m just following my own advice.”
Halloran says she’s not certain what her future plans will entail, but she won’t be running for chair of Waterloo Region, nor entering provincial or federal politics.
“I won’t be going far. I will be staying here and working in this community,” she says, suggesting her next position could involve working with people in Waterloo who “really need assistance” or establishing the region’s identity on the global scene.
Halloran becomes the third member of Waterloo’s city council to announce plans to leave municipal politics in recent weeks.
Coun. Karen Scian and Coun. Scott Witmer will also be leaving council.
Both tell CTV News they have no intention of running for the mayor’s chair.
Coun. Melissa Durrell, first elected in 2010, says she’ll be back on the ballot in her ward next year and wants to continue to focus on uptown projects.
Elsewhere in Waterloo Region, Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr, Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig and regional chair Ken Seiling say they won’t make decisions on their political futures until the new year.
Zehr says he was surprised by Halloran’s announcement, but enjoyed working with her since her election.
