When Stephen Blais ran for council in 2010, he promised to stay at City Hall for two terms. But this month, he announced he's breaking that election oath and running again for a third time in Cumberland ward this fall.

He's not alone.

Orléans Coun. Bob Monette is on this third of a promised two terms, and is considering running for a fourth. Tim Tierney, councillor for Beacon Hill-Cyrville, backed away from his belief that councillors should only sit for two terms in the last election. And Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley is expected to seek re-election for the third time, despite promising not to do so.

Blais announced his re-election plans last week in a column in the Orléans Star, a community newspaper, trotting out the well-worn reasoning that he has to stay around because there's still too much work to do in his ward.

The councillor nearly died of a heart attack in early 2013, and wrote that the experience led him to believe that "we have very little time to make an impact and change things for the better."

Blais conceded that going back on his word "will disappoint some" and he apologized if his decision "contributes to the cynicism some have for politics."

However, there seem to be few consequences for politicians who break this sort of promise. Monette was re-elected handily in 2014.

Of the current councillors who promised to run for only two terms, only Bay ward Coun. Mark Taylor is keeping his word.