Aidan Johnson won't run for re-election in Ward 1

AidanJohnson won't run to serve another term as a Ward 1 city councillor. Instead, he's taking a new position at the Niagara Community Legal Clinic.

His decision means there are now fourcouncil seats that won't have an incumbent running in the fall election.

Johnson says he's withdrawing his nomination for the Oct. 22 municipal race. Instead, the former Legal Aid Ontario staff lawyer will become executive director at the Niagara not-for-profit.

Johnson, who was elected to serve the west end in 2014, said he has mixed emotions. But the new role will let him serve "social justice in a new and direct way.

"Significantly, the clinic's mandate is to create greater access to justice for low-income marginalized people in the Niagara region," he said on his Facebook page.

"I am thrilled that social justice will be an even larger part of my day-to-day work, in the new role."

Johnson's announcement comes just a day afterMatthew Green from Ward 3 said he won't run, and will seek the Hamilton Centre federal NDP nomination instead.

Robert Pasuta, Ward 14 councillor for rural Flamborough, has said he won't run. Donna Skelly, Ward 7 councillor, is now a Flamborough-Glanbrook PC MPP.

Green and Johnson both representfirsts on city council. Green is Hamilton's first black city councillor, while Johnson is the first openly LGBTQcouncillor.

Johnson has taken a particular interest in environmental and LGBTQ rights during his time on council, as well as student housing issues around McMaster University.

In 2016, for example, he moved a motion that the city fly the transgender pride flag for the first time ever. Hespoke out against the stance of PC MPPSam Oosterhoffaround a bill that would streamline adoption for same-sex couples.

He encouraged the city to put more support toward Hamilton Prideand to write a letter urging better health care resources for transgender residents.

Johnson alsospent a morning working on a garbage truck to better understand city waste collection, and moved a motion to have Indigenous art at future light rail transit (LRT) stops.

Johnson, like Green, is also a regular transit rider and part of a core group of councillors who support LRT.

One candidate so far Sophie Geffros is running in Ward 1.