‘I didn’t miss much’: St. Thomas mayor Joe Preston credits collaboration for economic and social advances ahead of retirement

A major political shakeup in St. Thomas. Mayor Joe Preston says he won't seek re-election this fall. CTV London’s Sean Irvine reports.

The transformative mayor of St. Thomas has announced he will not seek re-election this fall.

Joe Preston intends to spend more time with family while remaining connected to the Railway City.

His decision comes as his city rides a wave of economic and social innovation.

“Six elections, six ballots, it’s time for me to pass the baton and let someone else do the job,” he told CTV News London.

During his two terms as mayor, Joe Preston has led a team that changed St. Thomas.

In economic development, his greatest win has been landing the Volkswagen and now Vianode factories. Both are expected to add thousands of direct and spin-off jobs to the region.

Preston said it would never have happened without cooperation.

“Name me three other projects in the world where the three levels of government actually all agreed and said, let’s all row the boat in this direction and get it done. And so, look at what happens when you do that,” he said.

Yet it is not those generational economic developments that are at the top of Preston’s list of accomplishments.

Over his two terms, he said nothing has brought him greater satisfaction than the city’s advancements in responding to homelessness and the housing crisis.

“We have no one camping in our community during this, the coldest winter we’ve seen in a long time,” he said.

An aggressive campaign to build affordable housing is a big reason why. Preston and his city have been lauded nationwide for their efforts.

“So that’s one of the proudest pieces. We’ve done a lot with this council. But to move it forward that way is incredible!”

Before becoming mayor, Preston won four elections as Conservative MP

Yet it is his civic service he will fondly recall as he steps away, going as far as to say that if he’d run locally first, Ottawa would have never been an option.

“Once I found municipal politics, I would never have done anything else.”

Elgin County Warden Dominique Giguère calls Preston a “catalyst in unlocking the potential of the region”, who knows the “key to getting things done”.

London Mayor Josh Morgan called Preston a friend and mentor to many in politics, adding he will leave an “indelible mark” on St. Thomas and all of Southwestern Ontario.

For his part, Preston advises future leaders to stay focused in the face of world challenges.

“And now we have a plague called Trump. And how that is going to affect southern Ontario is, well, let’s just stay positive and go forward.”

With eight months left in his term, Preston says there are still improvements to be made.

But overall, he’s content with what he has accomplished for St. Thomas.

“I’m pretty pleased. I mean, I can look back at the career as mayor and say, ‘didn’t miss much, hit the marks on most of what we’re trying to do,’” he said.