Mayor Whitlock announces she will not seek a third term
The announcement opens the most competitive mayoral race in Port Ellery in a generation
Mayor Dana Whitlock told a packed council chamber on Monday that she will step down at the end of her term next year, closing eight years in office and opening a race that at least four candidates are already eyeing.
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For Helen Osei, a resident of the East Harbor district for more than two decades, the announcement was overdue. "We have been asking for this since my kids were in school," she said. "I am glad it is finally moving, even if it is later than it should be."
The measure passed with broad support after an amendment removed the most contested clause. Supporters called the compromise a practical way forward; critics said it postponed the hardest questions to a later date.
Staff at Northshore Transit will hold three open sessions next month so residents can ask questions and review the maps. Dates and locations will be posted on the county website and at the public library.
Who is expected to run
Similar programs in nearby coastal towns have produced mixed results. In one case, participation exceeded projections within the first year; in another, delays in permitting pushed the launch back by almost twelve months.
The city expects to publish a first progress report in the autumn. Until then, the planning office will accept written comments by email and at the front desk of City Hall during business hours.
Local employers have welcomed the news. "Anything that makes it easier for people to get to work and back is good for us," said Helen Osei, who runs a family business near the marina and employs about forty people during the summer season.