Springfield mayor won’t run for re-election

The mayor of the Rural Municipality of Springfield won’t be running for re-election and will finish his single term when voters head to the polls in the fall.

Patrick Therrien, first elected in 2022, decided to not run as the incumbent because he promised his family he would serve one term and to prioritize his health.

“I still keep my word to to my constituents in the RM of Springfield, and I keep my word to my family, one term and that was to get the rec center started,” he said.

Therrien pointed to two goals he wanted to see accomplished in his term: the Springfield Community Recreation Centre and a water treatment plant.

The $30 million recreation centre is set to begin construction in the summer. Therrien previously told The Carillon the project was 32 years in the making and will be done in two phases. Land and funds have already been set aside for the $29 million water treatment plant. But work hasn’t begun yet due to a delay in the environmental license being approved.

“When you get into office, then you know what things that should have been attacked decades ago, like our water treatment plant. It’s way overdue,” he said.

One of the recurring struggles throughout his term was battling misinformation, Therrien said, which has caused confusion and made people cynical about municipal politics. He didn’t provide any specific examples on the misinformation, only adding that people have to listen to the “garbage.” A small group of people have been disrupting council meetings and spreading misinformation, Therrien said, but didn’t explain who the individuals were.

He’s worried about the trend municipal politics is heading for both Springfield and other municipalities if the misinformation isn’t addressed.

“It’s very concerning how the politics has really digressed, and how these small groups, and they’re all over the place, have taken over small municipalities and seem to work under the illusion they’re doing it for the best of the municipalities and otherwise. I dispute that emphatically” he said.

Therrien described working with council frustrating at times and not as a team-approach he hoped to have during his term.

“We work together, but having two counselors that are at in front of the RM office with a bunch of people with placards there. You know, we’re supposed to work as a team,” he said, refusing to identify which councillors he referred to.

Therrien plans to spend more time with his grandchildren and ride the highway on his motorcycle after he leaves his post.

“I’m gonna get on my motorcycle, and the only decision I have to make is whether I’m gonna go left or right, east or west,” he said.