At Monday night’s Leitchfield City Council meeting, Mayor William Thomason announced that he will not run for reelection in 2018.
Thomason cited the recent death of his long-time friend, and Grayson County Magistrate, Bill Skaggs, the arrival of his first grandchild next month and the increased stress he’s experienced in the position, as reasons for him not seeking another mayoral term.
“I cannot put up with the stress, anymore,” Thomason said. “I love my community as much as anything in the world … but, you don’t know how much more time you have. My first grandchild, a boy, will be here soon and I want to be able to spend time with him.”
Thomason, 76, said he spoke with various city officials earlier today about his decision, and thinks it’s time for the city’s leadership torch to be passed onto someone younger.
“I spoke with Kelly (Stevenson), Ken (Smart) and Lori (Woosley) today, and we need young people … the younger people have to step up to the plate.”
At the end of his term on December 31, 2018, Thomason will have served 23 years, nine months as mayor. He served for six months as interim mayor after Mayor Sherrill Watson became ill. After Watson stepped down from the position for health reasons, Thomason took over as mayor.
Thomason said he was first elected to the Leitchfield City Council in November 1981, giving him 36 years of service to Leitchfield at the end of his term.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
