Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr will not seek re-election

Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr has announced he will not seek re-election for a sixth term. 

“Over the past three decades our community has accomplished a great deal," said Zehr in a release on Tuesday. 

"I am deeply honoured and grateful to have had the opportunity to play a leadership role in many of those accomplishments and believe strongly in the community we have built."

Zehr served 26 years on Kitchener council, 17 as mayor and nine as a councillor. 

His decision to recuse himself from the municipal election on Oct. 27 means there will be three municipalities in Waterloo Region with new mayors – Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran and North Dumfries Mayor Rob Deutschmann have also said they will not run again.

Zehr worked with council to build and upgrade a number city facilities during his tenure as mayor, including the Activia Sportsplex, the Dom Carillo Arena and the Walter Bean Grand River Trail. 

Zehr also presided over the construction of the city's seven fire stations and renovate three of the city's libraries. 

“No one individual, including myself, can take credit for all of this amazing work. While we haven’t always gotten it right the first time, we have achieved our greatest successes when we’ve come together as a community to tackle the challenges of the day and pursue the opportunities of tomorrow,” said Zehr.

“I am truly appreciative and thankful for all the support I have received since first being elected.”

So far Coun. Dan Glenn-Graham has filed his papers in a run for mayor.