You won't see Wallaceburg councillor Jeff Wesley at his usual council seat next term.
Wesley has announced he won't run in this fall's municipal election. He says it wasn't an easy decision, given his love for all things Wallaceburg, but with the support of his family, it is time to move on.
"It's been a very good 25 years, it's been a hard decision, I really love my community and everything about it. It's been a delight to have their support over 25 years and represent them," says Wesley.
Wesley says his proudest political moment is being elected Mayor of Wallaceburg.
He says he got back into politics to make sure the Sydenham Hospital thrived and he feels good about its future.
Wesley has been in politics for nearly 25 years as a councillor in Wallaceburg from 1985-1988, Deputy-Reeve of County of Kent between 1988 and 1991, Mayor of Wallaceburg from 1991-1997, and a Chatham-Kent councillor between 1998 and 2000 and 2010 to 2018.
Wesley says he's not endorsing any successor.
The nomination period for the 2018 Municipal Election opens on May 1 and runs until July 27.
Wesley says he'll have more to say about the past and the future after the close of nominations on July 27.
"Go after the hospital issue and if you look at the hospital today it's there and on solid footing. It's got a positive future going forward. I think it's time to move on and achieve some other things in life," he says.
Wesley says he has no plans to run for a federal or provincial political seat in the future.
"You never say never on anything but there are certainly no plans at this time to do any of that. I went back to school and I'm a lawyer and have some career plans that I'm going to pursue plus I'm going to take some time to spend more time with my wife and family," Wesley says.