After being involved in Summerland municipal politics for 13 years, including four years in the mayor’s chair, Mayor Peter Waterman is stepping down.
At the municipal council meeting on Monday evening, Waterman announced that he will not be seeking re-election in the municipal election in October.
“There are a lot of personal pursuits I would like to follow,” he said.
These include spending more time with his four grandchildren.
From 2005 to 2008 and from 2011 to 2014, Waterman served as a councillor.
He lost to Janice Perrino in a mayoral bid in the 2008 municipal election. While he was not an elected official during that term, he was active in local issues at the time.
During his time on council, Waterman has worked to promote public input and public comment in municipal council meetings.
This has included having two public comment periods at each council meeting, one near the beginning of the evening and one later, after municipal business has been concluded.
He has also worked to promote discussion on controversial topics including the Banks Crescent development proposal and a proposed regional compost facility for Summerland.
Last year, in August, Waterman had dead rats left on his doorstep in two separate occasions.
He has also seen graffiti naming him, left on a concrete barrier on a Summerland road.
Waterman’s decision not to seek re-election means there will be changes at the Summerland council table.
The election for Summerland’s mayor and six councillors will be held on Oct. 20. The nomination period is from Sept. 4 to 14.
Those elected will serve for four years.
At present, Coun. Toni Boot has declared she will be seeking the mayor’s seat and Coun. Janet Peake has said she is interested in the role.