Billy Joe MacLean leaving mayor's job in Port Hawkesbury after 22 years

Long-time Port Hawkesbury MayorBilly Joe MacLeanis leaving politics in 2016 after 50 years in public life.

He told Town Council Monday night that he will not re-offer for the position in the upcoming election year.

When he steps down next fall he will have served 22 years as mayor of the Nova Scotia town.

• Hazel McCallionretired at age 93

"I'm very happy with with my decision,"he said."You know, I think I've left my mark on the community.We built a brand new school years ago,one of akind in Canada.When I was in government we brought the nautical school to town,and then we built our civic centre."

MacLeansays another highlight is the work he did with councillors and with county wardens to help get the paper mill re-opened in the Strait Area.

This is not the first time the 78-year-old has talked about retiring,and he realizes some people may be skeptical.But he says health problems have dogged him recently.

He also has reached a milestone that's extremely important to him:fifty years in public life.

"This is for real.It's a fact, whether they accept it, or the fat lady sings, or whatever it's a done deal."

In the 1980s MacLeanwas the MLAfor Inverness South.

Expelled by PCs

For a time he was also a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative government.

But he was expelled from the party after he pleaded guilty to forging expense claimsand was fined $6,000.

MacLeanwas then elected as an independent before losing to Liberal Danny Graham in 1988.

He was deputy mayor of Port Hawkesbury for a number of years and has served as mayor since 1994.

"I believe it's 17 elections that I've run," saidMacLean,who was first elected to town council in 1962.

Making his announcement now gives others a full yearto start thinking about running for the position, he said.

MacLean is also a long-time businessman and plans to keep a hand in the Port Hawkesbury bar now run by his daughter.

Spending more time with his family, which includes 17 grandchildren, is high on his agenda.

But he wants his successor to know that he's happy to spare some time for politics if he's needed.

"Any way I can help a new mayor or council I intend to do that,"he said. "And if I can help without interfering with their job I'm gonna be there."