“It takes a special kind of person to do this job,” says outgoing Nelson mayor John Dooley
Dooley delivered a heartwarming speech during his last council meeting on Tuesday.
Dooley thanked each council and staff member as he reflected on accomplishments and highlights during his term.
Dooley served as a councillor from 1999 to 2005 and as mayor from 2005 to 2014 and from 2018 until now. He lost a re-election bid this month to incumbent councillor Janice Morrison.
“The first two terms I was on council it was very like-minded, and after that it was different,” Dooley says. “There was definitely a change in the community.”
Dooley says he takes pride in the group of people he worked with over the last four years.
“I don’t know if the community realizes the great work this council has done,” he says. “We went through some unprecedented times to keep the community moving forward, but we adapted.”
Dooley says he has never experienced the level of support like what he had during the last four years, not just from council but from the community in general.
“It was so encouraging to have this group,” he says. “Even during the hard times of the pandemic we never broke ranks. We all worked together for the good of the community, and I am grateful for that.”
He says council came together during hard times and built a lasting relationship which will remain a lifetime.
“Everyone comes here to do something good,” he says. “We might approach it differently, but the goals are the same. We accomplished those goals and bonded.”
Dooley says he left the mayor’s chair ready for the next council to do good things and knows it is exactly what they will do.
“The new council are all good people,” he says. “They want to do good things for the community.”
Dooley says he leaves council knowing the city is in good hands.