Davidson bows out of election race

Clearview Township councillor Shawn Davidson says he will not seek reelection in the fall. 

He announced his decision to reporters following Monday night’s council meeting.  

Davidson has been a council member for 15 years but says he no can no longer work under the current leadership on council, nor does he feel he can run for mayor. 

“It has not been a fun four years under the current leadership,” he said. “I will not do four more years in this environment.”

Prior to this term of council, Davidson said he had a full portfolio and now his duties have been reduced to tender openings. 

“This leadership has tried to repress my role,” he said.

With his diminished role, he said the job is not as fulfilling as it once was.

“I do not have the personal and professional capacity to run for a higher office and I have some regrets about that,” said Davidson citing family commitments and the demands of running his business, Carruthers and Davidson Funeral Homes in Stayner and Wasaga Beach. 

He said he feels he is holding up the position for other people who may want to represent the area, someone who has fresh ideas. 

“I am going to miss it there’s no question about it,” he said, especially now that a lot of the things he has pushed for, like the downtown redevelopment plan, are coming to fruition.