Blais breaks promise to run for only 2 terms

When Stephen Blais ran for council in 2010, he promised to stay at City Hallfor two terms. But this month, he announced he's breaking that election oath and running again for a third time in Cumberland ward this fall.

He's not alone.

OrlansCoun. Bob Monette is on this third of a promised two terms, and is considering running for a fourth. Tim Tierney, councillor for Beacon Hill-Cyrville, backed away from his belief that councillorsshould only sit for two terms in the last election. And Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley is expected to seek re-election for the third time, despite promising not to do so.

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Blaisannounced his re-election plans last week in a column in theOrlansStar, a community newspaper, trotting out the well-worn reasoning that he has to stay around because there's still too much work to do in his ward.

The councillor nearly died of a heart attack in early 2013, and wrote that the experience led him to believe that "we have very little time to make an impact and change things for the better."

Blaisconceded that going back on his word "will disappoint some" and he apologized if his decision "contributes to the cynicism some have for politics."

However, there seem to be few consequences for politicians who break this sort of promise. Monette was re-elected handily in2014.

Of the current councillors who promised to run for only two terms, only Bay ward Coun. Mark Taylor is keeping his word.