Windsor's longest active city councillor is calling it a career after 23 years.
Ward 6 Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac told her colleagues and the public during Monday's council meeting that she will not run for re-election in October.
"This is our last meeting for the summer. We're off in August," said Gignac. "So, today, I wanted to share with the community, and with my colleagues around the table, and with administration, whom I greatly admire, that I will not stand for re-election."
Gignac told reporters after the meeting that she had been considering stepping down for several months, citing a desire to spend more time with her extended family.
She added that making her announcement on the day the Gordie Howe International Bridge finally opened to traffic brought things full circle.
"They've [the issues] been challenging from day one, as the mayor shared today in terms of the new bridge crossing, in terms of the Herb Gray Parkway, which was an incredible challenge to get what the people of Windsor wanted," said Gignac.
When she first appeared on council, there was plenty of discussion on where a new international crossing should go, and east Windsor was on the list.
With less than a month to go before the nomination period closes for the October election, Gignac said she made her decision so that those considering a run would have time to get their campaigns started.
"I'm hoping that by doing so, that it encourages a broad number of people out in Ward 6, which is an incredible ward, to step forward and consider sitting in one of these chairs," said Gignac.
As of Monday night, four candidates have filed their paperwork to succeed Gignac in Ward 6. They are Nick Jirgens, Hiral Munim, Jeremy Renaud, and Owen Smith.
Gignac was first elected in 2003. During her tenure at City Hall, Gignac ran as the Conservative candidate for Windsor-Tecumseh in the 2015 federal election, but lost to former Tecumseh Deputy Mayor Cheryl Hardcastle of the NDP.
-with files from Maureen Revait
