Another Windsor City Councillor has decided to shut off their dais microphone for the last time this fall.
Ward 4's Mark McKenzie announced on his personal Facebook page on Thursday that his first term on Council will be his last. He will not seek re-election in October.
McKenzie cited a desire to spend more time with his family.
"My son was eight when I got elected," wrote McKenzie. "He's 12 years old now, and honestly, I've missed more football games, school events, and family time than I'm proud of. Jennifer and I sat down and talked about it, and we both know it's time for me to be home more."
McKenzie, a realtor and a former local radio personality, won the Ward 4 seat in 2022 after Chris Holt vacated it to run for mayor. Ward 4 includes Walkerville.
He said that in his sole term on council, he is proud of what was accomplished.
"This job has meant the world to me," wrote McKenzie. "I still think about pushing to get the playground funded and built at Optimist Memorial Park, that was one of the actual reasons I ran in the first place, and construction wraps up by the end of this month. I'll actually get to see it open before my term is even done. That's the whole job working the way it's supposed to."
McKenzie added that he will continue showing up to work for the residents of Ward 4 until his successor takes office.
Holt has filed his papers to get his old Ward 4 seat back. The other registered candidate in Ward 4 as of Thursday evening is Rasha Zaid.
McKenzie's announcement means that there will be at least three new faces on City Council by the end of this year. Fred Francis is giving up his seat in Ward 1 to run for mayor.
Longtime Ward 6 Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac is also not seeking another term. She is the longest active councillor, first elected in 2003.
All other incumbents, except for Ward 3's Renaldo Agostino and Ward 5's Ed Sleiman, have submitted their re-election paperwork. Agostino and Sleiman have not publicly announced their intentions.
The nomination deadline is 2 p.m. on Friday, August 21. The election is Monday, October 26.
