Carman's mayor is making way for a new era of leadership around the council table. After serving 12 years in the role, Bob Mitchell says he has made the firm decision not to run for re-election this fall.

Mitchell explained that it's time for a change.

"My view is that's long enough to be in that type of position, otherwise things get stale and you just get into that same-old rut and nothing gets accomplished. So you need new people, and with new people, you get new ideas and things move on."

However, he was quick to add that he isn't totally disappearing from community service. Mitchell said he will still volunteer for local committees and specifically pointed Boyne Care Holdings Inc., the group working to build a new, regional personal care home in Carman.

"I've been there since day one and it's not fair at this stage in the game to ask somebody else to try to step in. So I'll just stay on as a community rep and Council will have their own rep there."

Mitchell said he will also make himself available to mentor the new mayor, whoever that turns out to be.

When asked what highlights stick out for him during his time as mayor, Mitchell pointed straight to the partnership between the Town and the neighbouring R.M. of Dufferin.

"There are so many common things that we do like libraries and rec commissions and fire halls, even our offices with the Memorial Hall, they're all common so you have to work together," he said. "We've got tax-sharing agreements with the R.M. that work well. That's the big thing. I mean there's buildings and things like that but that's easy."

Municipal elections in Manitoba are slated for October 24, 2018.