TRURO - Charles Cox is leaving municipal politics.
The Truro town councillor for Ward 2 has officially announced he will not re-offer for his seat during next month's municipal elections.
Cox has served on town council for almost 15 years.
"I've had 14 enjoyable years as town councillor ... I feel it's time to let go of the reins and allow a new administration to take over," Cox told the Truro Daily News on Monday morning.
Cox, who currently holds the deputy mayor position for Truro, said his political aspirations on a provincial level made a big impact on his decision to leave municipal politics. Cox has already been chosen to represent the Truro Bible Hill Conservatives in the next provincial election.
"I feel it would be unfair to run in this (municipal) election and should I win (a provincial election) force the town to go through an expensive byelection" to replace him mid-term, Cox said.
He would, however, like to serve as a volunteer on the town's tourism and audit committees "if the new council approves."
Some of Cox's accomplishments, he said, include starting or supporting initiatives such as the cross-country ski trials, FM town new radio station, youth advisory board, securing a diesel generator for water plant, the tourism and audit committees and farmers' market.
However, Cox leaves town council with one outstanding frustration.
"Until you learn how to get things done you can run into a lot of brick walls," he said, pointing to the search for a new location for the Truro library as an example.
"It was frustrating. There were people who weren't sure we needed it, others who didn't know where it should be and others who wanted it to be in a certain place."
In regards to the upcoming election, Cox is thrilled many candidates are coming forward.
"I'd like to see some new blood. I'm ecstatic about that and the young candidates coming forward."
The deadline for people to declare their candidacy for the municipal election, which includes school board, is today at 4:30 p.m.
mchiasson@trurodaily.com
