Sarnia's long time mayor is seeking re-election this fall.
Mike Bradley filed his nomination papers Thursday morning and is hoping to continue the role until 2026.
"Well it's always a long complex process when you've been in office for quite some time," said Bradley. "But I believe I've renewed the city through the very difficult periods of COVID-19, demonstrated leadership that works with all sectors of the community, and it is a seven day a week job, it's a total commitment to the community."
Bradley, who recently turned 67-years-old, was first elected mayor in 1988.
He said the city has moved forward to look at different directions as it relates to industry.
"The Research Park and Lambton College and all of those pillars of the community have grown and changed and I've been part of that change and want to continue to keep on bringing change to the community. That involves the waterfront, it involves the growth for the community and the plans we have in place, it involves keeping the fiscal fitness and also putting much more money into infrastructure in the years ahead."
Bradley said there's a full plate of issues that he hopes to tackle if he's reelected to serve an 11th term.
He also hopes to help Sarnia become the "Hydrogen Hub" of Canada, noting that the provincial and federal governments are recognizing that hydrogen is the way of the future.
"And Sarnia is a better place than any other city I can think of in Canada to be the 'Hydrogen Hub'. So, working with the Research Park, working with the college, we can make us a centre of change and a good positive environmental change and also an economic benefit to the community and to Canada."
Bradley said every time the city gets close to an election, he goes through a difficult renewal period. He said it's not a question about winning, it's a question of "what do you want to do for the community?"
"And with the waterfront plans, with the growth that we've planned for the community, with the great changes that I've personally been pushing for years to move away from the fossil fuels sector, respect it but recognize that's changing, leading that to me is critically important."
Bradley added that the pandemic made it much more difficult to make the decision to run again.
"Because of some of the other issues we had to deal with, like masking, like the vaccinations, and that very small minority that were quite belligerent and difficult to deal with and continue to be. But we got through it and we got through it together as a community."
Bradley is being challenged by Sarnia city councillor Nathan Colquhoun, who filed his paperwork to run for Mayor on Tuesday.
Candidates have until Friday, August 19 at 2 p.m. to file their papers.
Residents go to the polls October 24.
-With files from Melanie Irwin