Peter Hume won't run for councillor in Ottawa city election

Longtime Ottawa city councillor Peter Hume has announced he has changed his mind and will not run again in Octobers municipal election.

In an upcoming letter in his Alta Vista community newspaper, Hume says he wants to find "better balance"in an age where councillors are expected to be available 24/7.

"When I look at my own experience and my efforts to be available and accessible, it was clear that I had let my work dominate my life,"he wrote.

"I had created an environment which I had no work-life balance and that lack of balance wasnt good for me, wasnt good for my family and it wasnt good for the way I interacted with my constituents."

Hume said hes confident other candidates will step forward to carry on his work and praised Mayor Jim Watson, calling him a "great city builder."

Watson tweeted his thanks to Hume for his time on council and said hes "surprised and shocked"by the news.

Led influential planning committee

Hume has spent 23 years as a local politician, first elected to Ottawa city council in 1991.

He served two terms on the regional council for Ottawa-Carleton, then won or was acclaimed in four straight post-amalgamation city elections.

He has served aschairmanof the citys planning committee since 2003, overseeing development of Lansdowne Park, several large condominium developments and urban intensification since then.

He was also a member of the finance and economic development committee, along with the environment committee.

Hume went to Hawthorne Public School, Canterbury High School and Carleton University.

His city bio says hes a life-long resident of Alta Vista ward, where he lives with his wife and daughter.

There are currently two nominated candidates in Humes now-former ward, Daher Calin and Hussein Mahmoud.

Ottawas city election is set for Oct. 27.

On mobile? Click here to see Hume's full letter to constituents.