Halifax, Nova Scotia was a buzz over Easter with speculation that former mayor and current Westlock County CAO Peter Kelly was back in town to make a run for his old job.
But the rumors turned out to not be entirely true, as Kelly quickly moved to dismiss them here and back in Halifax.
“I have a role and responsibility here and my intent is to work under the contract I have with the county,” he said.
Kelly is a three-term mayor of the city and veteran of Halifax politics, but did not run for mayor in 2012.
Questions were raised about his conduct during two controversial moments in the course of his tenure, but subsequent investigations found no impropriety.
However, during his time as mayor of Halifax, Kelly was instrumental in the development of a sewage treatment plant that ended the pumping of raw effluent into local waterways and delivered the Africville apology.
Admitting that he has been approached to run and at the odd time has missed being a politician, Kelly said that he’s yet to make a decision about his future and is committed to his job in Westlock for the time being.
“My role is to be supportive of council and leading staff toward council directives,” he said.
Kelly was in Halifax to volunteer at a fish and chip shop on Good Friday, something he does yearly. He said he worked a 13-hour day and profits from the event were donated to a food bank.
During that time locals took the opportunity to chat with, and snap photos of, the former mayor.
That ended up sparking speculation that he was back in Halifax to run for mayor and city news outlets quickly picked up on the story.
Kelly was hired at county CAO in September 2014 on a one-year contract.
The next municipal election in Halifax isn’t until 2016 and regardless of what Kelly decides, he has the support of county reeve Bud Massey.
“Peter is our CAO and I have the upmost confidence that he will do 110 per cent on the job,” he said. “As long as he’s here, we’re lucky to have him.”
