Brooks Mayor John Petrie has announced he will not be seeking re-election this year. The first-term mayor was first elected as a city councillor in 2017 following a long career in local radio.--PHOTO COURTESY FACEBOOK
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
John Petrie, mayor of the City of Brooks, says he is hanging up his political hat and will not be seeking another term at city hall.
Petrie, elected mayor in 2021, recently expressed his desire to step aside from municipal policy to spend more time with his family.
Although serving for just one term, Petrie is well-known within the Brooks community throughout his more than 40-year career with the local radio station, currently operated and owned by the Stingray Group. Petrie was first elected to city council in 2017 before running for mayor.
Upon reflection of his time in office, Petrie says his priority as mayor was to enhance the municipality’s transparency and improve communication between council and residents.
“Because I was on the other side of the table (referring to his radio career) I wanted to have the most open, transparent council I possibly could,” Petrie told the News on Thursday.
Since late 2023, the city has worked with developers to strengthen economic development by an additional 330 housing units that have been completed or currently underway.
“I’m quite proud of that because we worked hard on that. We had a council that was committed to economic development, and we felt that was very important for the community.”
Petrie also says he is happy with rezoning projects, like a new dog park, and providing more funding for local arts, culture and heritage.
An issue Petrie says he wants to address before leaving office is the lack of street lighting available within the community, especially along Lake Stafford path.
“I wanted our pathways lighted, it hasn’t happened yet and that’s still in the works,” he said. “We have about three million vehicles that go by there every year, and aesthetically I think it would look pretty good. It also adds to the safety and security of people walking around.”
Alberta voters will hit the polls in the next municipal election series on Oct. 20.
Following the election Petrie says he and his wife plan on some “overdue” travelling, delayed since the pandemic and his 2021 election win that followed. Once they’ve scratched that itch a bit, Petrie says they’ll be settling back down in Brooks.
“I love the community and I’ll continue to work hard for the community,” he said.
Petrie’s last council meeting is scheduled on Oct. 6.
