A long-time member of Chatham-Kent's (CK) council is stepping away from politics.
Carmen McGregor won't be running in the upcoming municipal election, stepping aside after three terms representing Wallaceburg.
She was first elected in 2014, serving alongside Jeff Wesley. She was re-elected in 2018, this time representing Wallaceburg with Aaron Hall. The pair were acclaimed ahead of the 2022 election as no other candidates put their names forward.
McGregor told CK News Today her goal from the start was to serve three terms.
"I'm getting to an age where I've got other interests, and it's time to move on," she said.
McGregor explained that her overall experience on CK's council was mixed. Her time included several hot-button issues and complex experiences, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing trade war with the U.S.
What helped was her fellow Wallaceburg representatives, as McGregor credited Wesley for helping her when she was new and Hall for forming a great partnership over the past eight years.
When asked what she'll remember about her time on council, McGregor was quick to mention some of the projects that helped Wallaceburg. This included maintaining local infrastructure, such as bridges, and providing ongoing support to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
"Looking back, I think I'll be happy because in my time I have seen big changes in Wallaceburg. Not everybody thinks of them as being good, but we've come a long way since the downturn in [the economy] and amalgamation began," she added.
Wallaceburg will have two new representatives as Hall is also stepping aside. McGregor hopes whoever fills their spots has Wallaceburg at heart.
"It doesn't really matter to me whether they agree with my philosophy or anything else. What I want to see is people whose desire is to improve the community overall," she said.
CK's election will be on October 26, 2026.
