By Nancy Huddleston, Editor

Mayor Tom Brennan has seen a lot of changes in 10 years, and now he says its time for another.

He’s decided against running for another term, saying now is the right time to step down.

“It’s been a privilege to serve and we’ve done a lot of good things while I’ve been on council,” he said. “I just believe now is a good time for a change for me and for the council.”

Brennan believes he’s leaving the city in good shape. The new police station and city hall renovations have been completed, the old Savage Depot is back in town and renovated, and the Envision Savage process has been completed and is being put into action.

“I’d like to leave the city on a high note,” Brennan said.

And, although the mayor is mainly the ceremonial head of the City Council, Brennan said, there’s more to the job than meets the eye. “When you have a full-time job and you are mayor, it becomes difficult to juggle your career and your civic duties,” he said.

Brennan has served three, two-year terms as mayor and one four-year term as a city councilman. He was first elected in 1996 to City Council, took a two-year break and was elected mayor for the first time in 2001.

Although he’s stepping down from politics, Brennan said he’ll continue on with community service, which he says is in his blood. He expects to continue volunteering with Dan Patch Days, something he’s been involved in for the past decade. In fact, the time he’s put into the community festival earned him the Volunteer of the Year Award this year from Dan Patch Days Inc.

Brennan’s term is up this year, in addition to the terms of Councilwoman Janet Williams and Councilman Al McColl, who are just finishing up their first terms of office.

 Nancy Huddleston can be reached at editor@savagepacer.com.