The 2022 Race for the Mayoralty is wide open, as Lee Brain announces that he will Not run for re-election

Mayor Lee Brain with his
daughter, Mr. Brain
cited a desire for more 
time with his family in
his announcement that
he won't be seeking a third
term in office
(From the Mayor's FB page)

The line starts to form today for the next Mayor of Prince Rupert; that as current Mayor Lee Brain announced this afternoon that he will not be seeking a third term as the city's top elected official.

Mr. Brain made his announcement through his Social Media page on Facebook, observing as to how today's overview fits into his blueprint from the start of his political time eight years ago.

"I made a deal with myself that I would only stay until I knew in my heart that the community was on track and had a future.

My intention was never to be a career politician or to become the next 30 year mayor.  

Now that you know where my intentions lie, my focus over the next 10 months will be to hit the gas pedal to sling shot this community forward - and to leave this place in a much better condition for future councils."

His notes today also observed of his status as a new Father and his desire to spend more time with his wife and his newborn daughter as they start on their family journey.

In his reflective piece, he highlights the camaraderie of the current council membership and how with his plans to step down in October, that he won't see all of the Rupert 2030 Vision plans come to fruition. 

The Rupert 2030 vision will also now fall to the current council membership to follow through on and take on a larger role in explaining to the community as to how all the elements will continue to fall into place.

That project which he introduced in 2019, one of a wide range of civic initiatives and plans for the community, coming out of his previous work through his Hays 2.0 days.

Mr. Brain's time in office  started with his electoral victory in 2014, followed by a reelection by acclamation in 2018. 

During the course of his stewardship of the community in office, he has faced a number of challenges, the largest from the start, that of what to do with the Watson Island site; as well he launched some significant infrastructure work following up on some of the plans from previous councils before him.

His record in office will be the focus for much comment through the year as he winds down his time as the city's top elected official; though any final barometer of the changes put in place and new directions that this council has taken the community will take a bit longer to assess.  

And now there are two ... Mayor 
Lee Brain will be following former City
Manager Robert Long out of the 
municipal politics field, announcing
his plans to step aside earlier today

His pending departure of October, makes for the second significant shift at City Hall in the last year. 

In 2021 Robert Long, the City Manager stepped down from his post, subsequently taking on some temporary work with the Gitxaala Nation.

Mr. Long was replaced by Rob Buchan, who had been hired as the city's contract planner previous to his appointment.

Towards his future plans, post municipal politics, Mr. Brain didn't tip his hand with todays correspondence.  

But he did leave an intriguing message for his followers to digest as his timeline as Mayor begins the countdown to October.

But, ultimately I'm here on a soul's journey, and that voice inside is calling me to a new level of service to the world and humanity - and with that said it's time for me to make my leave once this term is complete.

You can review the Mayor's statement and the reaction of his followers on his Facebook feed here.

Much of the commentary to the Mayor's social forum to this point has been filled with praise for his work over the eight years, and perhaps a hint that some of his followers may look to sway him to reverse his decision as we get closer to October.

For now, with another ten months of work ahead, you can chart the themes of his final chapter through the year at City hall from our archive page here.