SANDRA M STANWAY
Brooks Bulletin
Brooks mayor John Petrie will not be seeking re-election citing his desire to fully retire.
“I am not seeking re-election,” Petrie said on Friday.
“I’m at a point in my life where I am still healthy. Cathy and I want to enjoy our retirement years. She retired from teaching five years ago and at that time the pandemic came along. I had retired from the radio station about five years ago,” he said.
“My intention when I started this journey in 2017 was to do two terms. Bottom line is I want to move on and enjoy the retirement.”
Petrie was first elected to council in 2017. In 2021 when he was elected mayor, his goals included per capita funding for arts, culture and heritage and adding lights to Lake Stafford path. Arts received a financial boost and the Lake Stafford path has recently been discussed.
“There’s a lot of tangible things but those are council accomplishments not my accomplishments. I came in with certain ideas, some came to fruition some didn’t,” he said.
“Some of the proudest things I’ve accomplished, is I believe I’ve covered the most transparent and open council that I can ever recall,” he said.
He said he’s let debates happen at council that have ended with elected officials able to get together after meetings in a social setting.
The city council has been going through some personnel issues over the past few months but Petrie said it didn’t sway his decision but offered advice to future elected officials.
“No. Not at all… Anyone running for council should be ready to deal with citizens, businesses, working with other councillors locally and around the region plus staff for changes which are constant.”
The next municipal election is Oct. 20, 2025 and the nomination period will close at noon on Sept. 22.
