X

Ogdensburg's Mayor Nelson won't run for a fifth term

Posted 1/28/15

By JIMMY LAWTON OGDENSBURG – After 16 years as the city’s chief lawmaker, Mayor William Nelson says he will not seek reelection. The mayor said after four terms at the helm he is ready to spend …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Ogdensburg's Mayor Nelson won't run for a fifth term

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – After 16 years as the city’s chief lawmaker, Mayor William Nelson says he will not seek reelection.

The mayor said after four terms at the helm he is ready to spend some more time with his family.

“ It is time for me to make a change. It has been difficult to make this decision as I enjoy public service. However, more importantly, I love my wife Darlene and my family,” he said in a prepared statement. “With that, it is with bittersweet sadness and a heavy heart that I announce I will not be seeking re-election to a fifth term as mayor. I want to thank the citizens of Ogdensburg for placing their trust and confidence in me of four terms as mayor. It has been a pleasure serving you, and an experience I will never forget.”

In addition to his time as mayor, Nelson served six years as a city councilor, and over two years on the city planning board.”

Nelson said he announced his decision to ensure that anyone interested in making a run would adequate time to consider it.

“Its quite a commitment. I have heard some people are interested and I want to open up the field and give the Republican Party time to choose a candidate,” he said. “It’s a decision whoever runs will have to make and it’s not an easy one.”

Nelson said he believes there are several people he thinks would make strong candidates, but said he doesn’t have an individual in mind for an endorsement.

Nelson said he is proud of many things during his time in office including the cleanup of the former Diamond National site and the creation of a boardwalk and visitor’s center.

“People told us that it wouldn’t happen, that we would never get Diamond National torn down, that it would never be cleaned up. But we were committed and we did it,” he said.

Nelson said he remembers fondly pushing the igniter on the dynamite, in the company of then Sen. Jim Wright, which knocked the building down.

“It was real, because it was the actual igniter, but it was also symbolic. It was what laid the foundation for the cleanup. But now that property has a clean bill of health.”

Nelson said such accomplishments aren’t his alone.

“I have been blessed to work with a great team: Each of my fellow citizens who have joined me over the years and answered the call to serve our great community as a City Councilor on City Council; a highly dedicated work force led by our City Manager John Pinkerton and our department heads; the hard working, loyal, City employees; and the countless citizens that volunteer their time to serve on the various boards that advise the City Council on matters of the city. I say thank you,” he said in a released statement.

Nelson said he would like to see the Diamond site developed before he leaves office, but is doubtful it will happen. He said he believes the councilors, who share that vision, will carry the torch and he believes that in five years the property will be developed.

“A focus has been to recapture and develop our waterfront, investing in city streets, keeping our streets safe, maintaining and bringing new jobs top the community, maintain a stable tax rate, and we have improved the quality of life for all our citizens,” he said in his release. “I want to thank all of the residents, business owners, and countless volunteers who serve on our community boards and have all played a key role in helping to make Ogdensburg a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Nelson says he will be able to end his career knowing that he has worked hard for the community.

“The one thing I want to be able to say when I close that door for the last time is that I left Ogdensburg in a better place than when I came in that door, and I think collectively we as a city can say that,” he said.

Nelson said 550 new jobs have been created in the last eight years, and over 400 existing jobs have been retained. He said the city was able to use its former Empire Zone designation to aid 50 businesses that now employ more than 1,500 people.

In his statement Nelson also thanked his constituents for electing him four consecutive times.

“I want to thank the citizens of Ogdensburg for giving me that pleasure and honor to serve. Serving as Mayor is a job that I love and enjoy, and has been a rewarding experience; but with all things in life, everything has a season; there is a time to sow and a time to reap. I believe it is time for me take the latter, and take time for myself, my beautiful wife Darlene, my four children, and my three grandchildren, to step aside and let someone else lead the city forward in the next phase.”