Chillicothe Mayor Childers: "This Term is My Last"
By: Eugene Daniel
Updated: September 14, 2012
PEORIA- Mayor Troy Childers says the time is coming near for new leadership in Chillicothe.
Childers says this term will be his last and he will not seek re-election.
"I'd like to see a younger person get in to be mayor and handle a lot of the stuff I'm getting to old to handle," he said.
With nearly 30 years in local politics, Childers, 73, doesn't plan to run for a second consecutive term next April. He says his announcement has nothing to do with a recent and controversial move to permanently shut down the city's ambulance service, Rescue 33.
"I'm not leaving for a grudge. I'm not leaving for nothing. I'm just leaving because I've got a wife and a dog that needs more of my attention than the city does."
Patty Pierson, Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce facilitator, says the mayor's announcement comes at a critical point for city's downtown. According to Pierson, the city's economic development council is undergoing changes, and trying to attract new businesses downtown. Childers plays a large role in both projects.
"Whoever decides to come and take his place is gonna have a lot of work to build up," Pierson said. "It's going to have to be someone who is in the community for a while to know the projects that are currently ongoing."
However, Childers says there's a chance he could still run for the spot. He might reconsider if he thinks none of the candidates can handle the job. Currently, three Chillicothe residents are publicly considering to run for mayor, but Childers doesn't "have a lot of faith in" them.
He has until November 26th to change his mind for re-election, but hopes it doesn't come to that. If he doesn't run, he promises to stick around when he's done. He hopes to still play a part in the city's success.
"I don't want to step on the new mayor's toes, because everybody needs to know who the big boss is. And if I can help in any way with Chillicothe, I will do that," he said.
Childers says this term will be his last and he will not seek re-election.
"I'd like to see a younger person get in to be mayor and handle a lot of the stuff I'm getting to old to handle," he said.
With nearly 30 years in local politics, Childers, 73, doesn't plan to run for a second consecutive term next April. He says his announcement has nothing to do with a recent and controversial move to permanently shut down the city's ambulance service, Rescue 33.
"I'm not leaving for a grudge. I'm not leaving for nothing. I'm just leaving because I've got a wife and a dog that needs more of my attention than the city does."
Patty Pierson, Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce facilitator, says the mayor's announcement comes at a critical point for city's downtown. According to Pierson, the city's economic development council is undergoing changes, and trying to attract new businesses downtown. Childers plays a large role in both projects.
"Whoever decides to come and take his place is gonna have a lot of work to build up," Pierson said. "It's going to have to be someone who is in the community for a while to know the projects that are currently ongoing."
However, Childers says there's a chance he could still run for the spot. He might reconsider if he thinks none of the candidates can handle the job. Currently, three Chillicothe residents are publicly considering to run for mayor, but Childers doesn't "have a lot of faith in" them.
He has until November 26th to change his mind for re-election, but hopes it doesn't come to that. If he doesn't run, he promises to stick around when he's done. He hopes to still play a part in the city's success.
"I don't want to step on the new mayor's toes, because everybody needs to know who the big boss is. And if I can help in any way with Chillicothe, I will do that," he said.
