Morinville Mayor Paul Krauskopf says he won't run for re-election this fall out of concern for his health.
Krauskopf made the announcement Tuesday night after the town's regular council meeting. He did not take questions from the media, but did issue a statement.
“It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I announce today that I will not seek re-election in the upcoming election in Morinville this October,” he said in the statement.
Krauskopf said that he made this decision after the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Vancouver earlier this month. “I came to realize that the cancer battles I have lost over the last three years were taking their toll on my body and my health,” he said, “but believe I have not lost the war yet.”
Krauskopf was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2010.
Both his wife, Linda, and his doctor support his decision, he said. “God has spoken and given me direction and as always I put my life in his hands. I have faith.”
First elected in 1998, Krauskopf has served 14 years on council as a councillor and became mayor last November after Lloyd Bertschi resigned.
During his time as mayor, he oversaw the passage of the Hwy. 642 functional planning study and (as of Tuesday) the passage of the Coeur de Morinville area structure plan – documents that will guide the shape of Morinville's downtown for decades to come.
As a councillor, he saw Morinville add some 3,623 residents to its borders (a rise of about 58 per cent) and gain a new town hall and community cultural centre.
Krauskopf thanked his wife, family, fellow councillors, administrators and town residents for their support over the years.
“There are many things happening and many more things to come in the future of Morinville,” he continued, such as the Cardiff interchange (which he still hopes will be built), the regional recreation master plan, and affordable housing.
“We are the envy of many municipalities with our cost-recovery in utilities,” he said, and are in good financial shape. “It is an exciting future for Morinville, and residents should be excited about the opportunities that Morinville will experience.”
Still, many municipalities are trying to play catch-up due to rising costs, he warned, and Morinville will soon be in the same position unless it changes course on property taxes. The town had to ensure that it kept putting money away to meet future infrastructure needs. He hoped future councils would consider his 2013 motion to put a portion of taxes from new assessments towards recreation infrastructure.
“It has been fun, exciting, and sometimes difficult, but I do not regret one single moment in the last 15 years,” Krauskopf said. He wished the new mayor and council good luck.
The Gazette will have more on this story in the days ahead.
