Robert Gray will not seek reelection

‘It’s time to give someone else the opportunity’

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After two terms, city council member Robert Gray announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection in November. Gray’s position is one of four city council seats open for election this year. Mayor Deborah Stinson and council members David Faber and Amy Howard’s seats are all open for election. While city council seats are nonpartisan, Gray described himself as sometimes the “only dissenting voice” on the council. “I think it’s time to give someone else the opportunity to serve,” he stated in a press release. “I believe that more people would run for city council if we had term limits because incumbents are rarely challenged and, in a small town, rarely defeated.” Gray said he decided a long time ago that he would limit his service to eight years. “I believe that I have made a positive difference for the city,” he said. “I fought to increase access for seniors and those with disabilities; improve our roads, trails and parks; and to increase the number of residents able to participate in the city’s low-income utility program.” The city’s financial stability is still a concern for Gray. “The city council has a history of unsustainable borrowing,” he said. “In my opinion the city’s budget is not prepared for another economic recession like the recession we faced started in 2006.” The deadline for filing to run for an open position is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 17. According to Betty Johnson, election coordinator for Jefferson County, no applications have been filed as of May 1. The Leader will be closely following the 2020 election season. See later editions for more.