The last incumbent city councillor declared his intentions for the fall election this week when Coun. Lorie Garritty indicated his name won't be on the ballot Oct. 18.
The two-term councillor told his council colleagues and the press Monday night he would not seek a third term.
Garritty's was the last incumbent to reveal his intentions, joining Coun. Carol Watamaniuk who also isn't running again. Meanwhile, fellow councillors Len Bracko, Gareth Jones, Roger Lemieux and James Burrows have announced re-election plans.
Garritty said he's enjoyed his time on city council and would like to run again, but with a full-time position at Progressive Home Warranty in the Campbell Business Park he no longer has the time.
"It just reached a point where, particularly in the last year, it just got so busy with trying to fulfil both responsibilities and something had to give or I was going to."
Garritty said he has really enjoyed the opportunity to engage with people from the many community groups he's encountered to other councillors and city administration.
He said the city is blessed with people who are deeply concerned about the community.
"You have some communities where the council gets in by acclamation and nobody wants to get involved and St. Albert is just the opposite of that," he said. "We are awfully lucky in St. Albert to have that kind of involvement in the community."
He said he would have liked another year on council if he could have, but he simply couldn't commit to another three-year term.
The Arlington Drive debate is one issue he said he would like to see to the end and he noted it might wrap up before the end of his term, but it could also stretch into the next council.
Challenges ahead
Garritty believes attracting new businesses to help ease some of the property tax burden on homeowners is one of the biggest challenges future councils will face over the coming years.
The city absolutely needs more commercial and industrial land, he said.
"We are missing out some opportunities to get some big players in the commercial side or the light industrial side because we don't have those large lots."
When he was first elected to council in 2004 the first vote council faced was moving ahead with Servus Credit Union Place and it has been one of the most controversial issues ever since.
Garritty recalls how many people thought the city should abandon the multi-purpose leisure centre concept because the plebiscite vote was so close, but he believes many of those people have now likely changed their minds.
"Personally, I think it is the best thing we ever did. I know lots of people who voted against it and now fully support it," he said. "It is getting closer and closer to break even."
Mayor Nolan Crouse said Garritty has been an invaluable resource on council and often brought difficult decisions to a conclusion.
"He was the voice of reason, always. He could sift through the most difficult issue and bring reason to the city and to any issue."
Garritty was elected with the highest vote total of any councillor in 2007. Prior to public office he had worked in education and was once principal of St. Albert Catholic High School.
He said a future return to council is not out of the question, but for now he is looking forward to having more free time.
"If my situation changed and I was fully retired and felt I wanted to get back in and contribute, I wouldn't say no," he said. "I am looking forward to that. I haven't see a Monday Night Football game in an awful long time."
