Ames mayor Anne Campbell announced Wednesday she'll retire when her term ends. Here's the complete text of her statement:
AMES, Iowa – After serving three terms as mayor, Ames Mayor Ann Campbell announced today she will not seek reelection this fall.
“Even though November is several months away, candidate announcements have made it important to declare my plans now,” Campbell said. “I want to ensure Ames voters that, for the remainder of my term, I have no intention of being a ‘lame duck’ mayor or being any less attentive to the role as it relates to local, state, and national issues.”
Campbell’s 12 consecutive years in office may be a record for Ames. Although Parley Sheldon served as mayor for four terms, his years in office were staggered between 1884 and 1916. Campbell said the decision not to run was difficult, and serving as mayor has been both challenging and gratifying.
“I want to thank the Ames voters for allowing me to fill this role for the last three terms. It has given me the opportunity to work with people from all walks of the Ames community. They represent a wide variety of cultural, social, and political interests and concerns,” she said. “There couldn’t be a better community to serve as mayor. Ames is fueled by its people – diverse, invested, and forward thinking. This is what makes Ames such a great place to live, work, and play.”
Campbell praised the work of more than 500 City of Ames staff, who she described as outstanding and dedicated. “These employees provide unparalleled city service at the level most basic to our everyday needs,” she said.
As mayor, Campbell represents Ames when working with outside organization, including Story County, the Metropolitan Iowa Mayors, the Iowa League of Cities, and the National League of Cities.
“From those involvements, I have come to have great appreciation for the role of municipal government and the importance of non-partisan leadership in that role,” she said. “I trust that the next mayor of Ames will embrace those same inclusive values.”