ERIN MAYOR ALLAN ALLS WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION

ALLS SERVED TWO TERMS AS MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF ERIN

Mayor Allan Alls looks forward to spending more time with his family after this term, which will be his last.

After eight years as mayor, Alls said he plans to pass the torch. He will not seek re-election in the fall municipal election.

"I had a good time," said Alls. "I've been privileged and honoured to represent the people of Erin. It's time for someone else to take over. I have a saying: there's a time for someone to get on stage, and there's a time for them to get off. I feel my time to get off is now."

Alls has served two terms as mayor since first being elected in 2014. As he turns 79 in August, he said he wants to give the role to someone younger to fulfill obligations to the town.

"If I were younger, I would stay on," said Alls. "That was the major factor, and my family wanted me to stop. I want to do what I can still do with my life and do things I enjoy."

He is proud of the wastewater treatment plant project breaking ground in town, noting it is needed for the town to grow. He is also proud of council working together to establish the project.

"The wastewater plant is one of the major reasons I ran," said Alls. "As a real estate agent in town, I realized how the environment needed to be looked after and what we needed to do. There's some local opposition, but it had to happen. Growth had to happen."

He is grateful for the County of Wellington purchasing the former Mundell Lumber property, including the historic Grist Mill in Erin, for a public library with affordable housing options in the future.

"I am pleased with that," said Alls. "I requested the library, but then the county agreed they would take over all the property for development. They're going to put in some affordable housing, which is desperately needed. The county does things, first class. That piece of property will look beautiful when it's all done. I am very supportive of it."

He commends town administration and staff for the work they have done. If Father Time had been on his side, he would have tried to stay on longer.

"I regret leaving in many ways," said Alls. "There's a great staff here. They have been very supportive and done everything to try to persuade me to stay, but I feel it is time."

People interested in vying for the position have until 2 p.m. on Aug. 19 to submit their nomination papers. Municipal elections will then take place on Oct. 24.