Journal Staff
City councillor Cindy Scholten is not seeking re-election in the Oct. 22 municipal election.
The first-term councillors said today that after a successful four years of “challenges, triumphs and joys” at City Hall she will dedicate herself to her marketing career.
“It is now time for me to focus on strengthening my future and devote more time to my personal work,” Scholten said in a release.
“I will always be an advocate for the people of Sarnia and will do my best to contribute to our community in other ways moving forward.”
Scholten is the second member of Sarnia’s nine-member council to announce they won’t seek re-election. Coun. Mike Kelch announced in May he is retiring after a 21-year career in public life.
Scholten said her highlights on council included her push for a corporate sponsorship and advertising policy, as well as new communication and engagement policies that led to the hiring of a communications co-ordinator and an on-line platform for public engagement (www.smartsarnia.com).
She helped bring live video streaming to council meetings, increased the city’s use of social media, and, working with the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, helped secure shoreline protection funding.
She added the current council, which twice imposed sanctions on Mayor Mike Bradley for harassing and bullying senior staff, managed to work together despite the “unusual” pressures it faced.
“I am sad to say that I was unable to help everyone that came to me with their concerns, but I tried hard,” she said.
“I always ensured their voices were heard at council and their problems were attended to with staff.”
Under the Municipal Act, the authority of the new council after Oct. 22 will be limited until its swearing-in if fewer than three-quarters of its members were members of the out-going council.
Councillors passed a “lame duck” bylaw Monday giving CAO Margaret Misek-Evans additional authority until Dec. 1, such as the ability to dispose of major property, should that occur.