Former mayor won't be running in 2018 municipal election

The former Mayor of Guelph says she won’t be running in this year’s municipal election.

“No I’m not,” said Karen Farbridge, when asked if she would be returning to the political arena when citizens of Guelph go to the polls in October.

Rumours had been circulating that Farbridge planned on running as a councillor in Ward 1, but that's not the case, she said.

“I also heard I was running provincially but that’s not true either,” Farbridge added when contacted by phone.

Nominations for this year's election open May 1 and close July 27. Guthrie has already said he will be seeking reelection.

Farbridge served on Guelph City Council for 17 years.

She was Mayor of Guelph for 11 years, serving from 2000 to 2003 and then two terms from 2006 to 2014, when she lost by 5,500 votes to current mayor Cam Guthrie.

Prior to being mayor Farbridge served two terms as a councillor Ward 1, a total of six years.

Farbridge currently does consulting and speaking engagements through the firm Karen Farbridge and Associates, focusing on government relations, policy and environmental issues.