Mayor Matt Brown Will Not Seek A Second Term

Mayor Matt Brown issued a press release today, that he will not be seeking re-election.  Brown said in the statement that he was proud of the things that council had accomplished, but after just one term in office, he would be walking away.

I am proud of what has been accomplished so far this term and the incredible strides this Council has made toward its vision for London.

Brown has been involved in London politics for the better part of the last ten years. He served a term as city councillor in Ward 7, before crushing Paul Cheng in the 2014 Mayoral race.

Friday’s statement specifically referenced council’s work on the strategic plan and the London plan, and the money secured for the rapid transit system as things Brown was most proud of. He cited, “unprecedented investment in our downtown core, with Fanshawe College building two downtown campuses,” as great achievements seen in this Mayoral term.

He also mentioned the transformation of Dundas Street into the flexible Dundas Place, the Community Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, the welcoming of Syrian refugees, securing the JUNO Awards in 2019, the investment of big retailers like IKEA, free transit for children under 12,  and advocating for a $40-billion National Housing Strategy. Brown has always had a penchant for talking about successes.

While there are definitely positives to point to, Brown will unfortunately not likely be remembered for any of the successes, as much as for being the Mayor involved in a “sex scandal”.

When Deputy Mayor Maureen Cassidy held a press conference on June 14, 2016 to announce that she was stepping down from the position, she rocked London politics and drew national media attention with the tearful revelation that she was doing so because of an inappropriate relationship with Brown.

Unfortunately, the relationship between the Mayor and me, for a brief period of time, crossed a professional boundary. – Maureen Cassidy

Brown responded by temporarily suspending his duties as Mayor; however, when the London Integrity Commissioner issued a report to City Council that despite violating the Municipal Code of Conduct, he had no authority to demand a resignation, Brown returned to duty just eight days later.

He separated from his wife a few months later in September of 2016.

Still, despite the nature of the scandal, and the national press, it’s hard to completely understand his willing departure. After all, politics is rife with men and women that have done worse. And survived politically.

Friday’s announcement was unexpected – even Deputy Mayor Paul Hubert didn’t know. “I was a little surprised this morning, since he’s been pretty clear that he was planning to run again,” Hubert said, adding, “Regardless of the Mayor’s decision, this current council needs to focus on making sure everything we set out to do is accomplished.”

Brown had also stated publicly before he was even elected in 2014 that he was committed to running again in 2018, saying “anyone serious about being Mayor should be around long enough to finish the job.”

Obviously he had a change of heart, and as such, London will never know if that 2016 affair would have prevented him from being re-elected. It clearly would have become a focal point of the campaign, given that Brown’s last campaign was full of morality and integrity that would surely be challenged in the months to come.

Perhaps ultimately, saving his family any further humiliation was a deciding factor in his announcement today.

After nearly a decade in #LdnOnt politics, I have decided not to seek another term as Mayor. I will not be running for re-election in 2018. Full statement here: https://t.co/F4NhbKSSaH

— Matt Brown (@MayorMattBrown) April 6, 2018