Mayor Jim Romane says he reconsidering his decision to seek a second term following a declaration in last week's Innisfail Province from Coun. Brian Spiller that he will run against him and that there is support from council for a mayoralty change.
Coun. Jason Heistad said last week he is endorsing Spiller's run for mayor.
“I'm hurt more than anything. I'm just disappointed that I have obviously lost confidence with council, according to that article at least,” said Romane. “It has given me second thoughts, and the reason it is giving me second thoughts is because of the confidence (factor).
“I thought I had council's confidence but when I see this I have to ask, ‘Does it exist?' I don't know,” he added. “Maybe I should be reconsidering if they don't think I've been doing a good job.”
Last week, Romane, 67, told the Province he would be seeking re-election for mayor in the Oct. 21 election, which for the first time will see the mayor and councillors elected for four-year terms.
“I still feel I have things I want to finish,” Romane said last week. He added his campaign would focus on three primary issues: completing the three-phase $8.5 million Downtown Revitalization Project, moving to service the already adopted Master Service Plan for new commercial and industrial areas in the western and northern areas of town, and creating a 10- to 20-year master plan for the town's parks and recreation facilities.
“I think we have accomplished a lot in the last three years. We have taken on some huge projects and we've been very successful with carrying those projects through,” said Romane.
But he said last week's article has made him question whether he has the support from other council members.
“It is very disappointing when I see councillors making the statements that they need change. I am not sure why they see they need this change,” said Romane. “If it's only because of my age it is the only reason I have seen that they see a need for change, but it is too bad.”
Spiller said he had “no reaction, no comment” to Romane's response to last week's story in the Province although he did say his statements were not meant as a personal or professional attack against the mayor. He said he's considering talking to Romane soon about his reaction to his bid for the mayor's chair.
“I am pretty new to this,” said Spiller, adding he will release a campaign platform when the time gets closer to the Oct. 21 election day.
Heistad said he was only exercising his democratic right by expressing his opinion on who he thought was the best candidate to lead the town into the future.
“Brian is the guy I support. I know what I see for a future mayor, and Brian is what I see. It has nothing to do with losing confidence in Jim Romane,” said Heistad. “I am one of those guys that is proud of where I stand on the issue. Many people out there are afraid to voice their opinion, but that is who I am. I don't have a problem of voicing who I vote for.”
Romane said last week after the story was published that he had not talked to either Heistad or Spiller about their comments. He added he was unsure what his next step would be in terms of their intentions, or whether he will drop out of the race.
“Nobody has come to me otherwise and I am just carrying on business as usual until something different comes up,” said Romane.
“I just don't want this to turn out into some kind of circus because all I am worried about is that we have three more months of council and I want them to keep working together,” added Romane. “I got other council members calling me and saying, ‘How are we going to deal with this at council meetings now?' I don't want it disrupting business.
