Mayor French Will Not Run for Another Term

 Rye City Mayor Douglas French announced Sunday he will not run for another term saying the demands of his career will prevent him from being able to commit to another four-year term.

“But volunteer public service is what we do in Rye so I will continue to be active -- just not in the top job,” French said in a statement to Patch.

French was elected mayor in 2009 and works as Global Vice President at Thomson Reuters. He defeated former Mayor Steve Otis, who had served in that role for 12 years.

For the rest of his term, which ends Dec. 31 of this year, he plans to continue his focus in several key areas.

“For the balance of my term, the focus will be to continue to strengthen the City's financial position and finalize the 4-year plan, continue the implementation of the rebuilding Rye initiative -- roads, sidewalks, sewers, and flood mitigation, to complete emergency preparedness planning and communication, to finalize the City Code revision project, and to re-structure the RGC and Boat Basin operations for the long-term."

Several local residents have been publically critical of French and other council members throughout his term but French said that has nothing to do with his decision not to run again. 

"That's part of the job when you have to make decisions overall in the best interests of the City," French said. 

Three council members terms will also end this fall – incumbents Peter Jovanovich, Julie Killian and Richard Filippi.

Killian announced her intention to run for her council seat during last year’s election cycle when she was first officially elected. The mayor appointed Killian to fill Suzanna Keith’s seat when she moved out of state last summer. Keith, Filippi, Jovanovich and French all ran on the Repulican slate and were elected in 2009. Although Killian has only served on the council since June 20, 2012, because Keith’s term is up this year, Killian must run again.

Filippi and Jovanovich have not yet announced if they will be running this fall.

Council members Joe Sack and Laura Brett were both elected in 2011 and each have another two and a half years left on their terms

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