Clifford Lee on rewards, challenges as Charlottetown's mayor — and some advice for his successor

Clifford Lee, first elected mayor of Charlottetown in November 2003, is ready to hand over the chain of office to someone new.

Lee announced Thursday morning he will not run in municipal elections coming in November.

He said stepping down is one of the most difficult decisions he's ever had to make, but with an election scheduled for November, now was the time.

"I'm 56 years of age, I've still got some good years ahead of me, and I just want to do something else in life," he said on CBC News: Compass.

"I don't know what that something else is yet, but I knew probably after the last city election three-and-a-half years ago that that was probably my last campaign. The campaign for mayor is really four months straight, six days a week, 10 to 12 hours a day. It takes its toll on you. I don't think that's necessarily a good thing for me to do every four years."

Infrastructure funding program

Lee served as a councillor for about 15 years before being elected as mayor.

He expressed pride in the implementation of a transit system in the city and consistently ranking as one of the top places in Canada to invest. He said one of the biggest successes for the city was finally resolving the municipal-provincial infrastructure funding program.

It's no secret, council has been a challenge to deal with over the last number of years.— Clifford Lee

"I know the City of Charlottetown has been fighting with the province a good 25 years on that issue."

Lee said one of the biggest challenges of being mayor is dealing with council.

"It's no secret, council has been a challenge to deal with over the last number of years," he said. "Unfortunately, I think personalities became more important than good city government."

The city faced scrutiny for the hiring of CAO Peter Kelly, who was accused of acting outside his authority while working for the Westlock County municipality in Alberta.

But Lee said Kelly's work in Charlottetown speaks for itself.

"I think the result of our last fiscal year, the budget, [is a] clear reflection on Mr. Kelly's abilities and what he brought to the City of Charlottetown and what he continues to bring to the city," Lee said.

Multi-use sportsplex

Lee said no matter when he stepped down, there would be projects he would not have time to finish, including the proposed $80-million multi-use sports facility.

"I anticipate this fall it will be an election issue for those who choose to seek office," he said.

There is one declared candidate for mayor in the Nov. 5 election, Al Douglas.

When asked if he could offer advice to anyone running for office, Lee said it's important not to let the office change who you are and what you believe in.

"If you become too self important in your own mind, the electorate will pick that up pretty quickly and it doesn't give you a long political life."

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