This week, Mayor Doug French announced that he would not seek a second term this fall.
By Robin Jovanovich
This week, Mayor Doug French announced that he would not seek a second term this fall. Explaining that the demands of his career are such that he cannot commit to another four years, French said, “I want to remain an active volunteer in the community — just not in the top job.”
For the remainder of his term, the Mayor said he would continue to focus on six major municipal projects: strengthening the City’s financial position; finalizing the four-year financial plan; rebuilding Rye’s infrastructure — especially roads, sidewalks, and sewers; updating and improving emergency preparedness and communication; completing the City Code revision project; and restructuring the Golf Club and Boat Basin operations “for the long term.”
Mayor French told the paper that perhaps $1,000,000 of the $5,600,000 it will receive from the sale of 1037 Boston Post Road could be used for street repair. “There are so many roads in Rye that are in bad shape — Milton, Midland, the train station — and we must find a way to repair them soon.”
Most of the proceeds from 1037 will go back into the City’s General Fund, said the Mayor, but he believes there will be some remaining funds that can go towards a parking plan — even a partial solution — to the shortage of spaces both in municipal lots and at the train station.
“We have lots of work to do, and we are making progress on a lot of those projects,” said Mayor French.
In all, four Council seats, including the mayor’s are up this fall. Incumbents Rich Filippi, Peter Jovanovich, and Julie Killian have not yet announced if they will run. Filippi and Jovanovich ran on the Republican ticket with French in 2009, along with Suzanna Keith. After Keith moved out of state, Killian was appointed to the fill the vacant seat. Killian then had to run for election last fall. She was unopposed at the polls. To hold on to her seat, she will have to run again in November.
