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Tyrone mayor won’t seek re-election

Tyrone’s mayor confirmed early this week he will not run for re-election this year, but others on the borough’s council have shown interest in the position.

On Monday, William Fink said family concerns would keep him from seeking another term.

“I won’t be on the ballot,” Fink said.

Fink first won the mayor seat in 2009, when he defeated Republican incumbent Jim Kilmartin in a spring primary before going on to win — unopposed — in that year’s general election.

He won a second four-year term in 2013, beating current Councilman Charles Mills Sr., a Republican running on the Democratic ticket.

Late last year, Fink had expressed some interest in another term, but it seems that has changed as he now faces personal challenges.

“(Another term) is completely out of the question,” Fink said.

Mills, who was elected to Borough Council in 2015, will be among those seeking the mayorship in this year’s elections, he said.

“We need to replace some council people, too,” Mills said, expressing disgust with the borough’s current leadership. “They are not for the good of the community.”

Including the mayor’s, four council members’ terms expire at the end of this year. Mills, who has been vocal at this year’s council meetings, said the right candidates could make a difference.

“I’m not happy; the employees are not happy; the town is not happy,” Mills said. “Hopefully, we can get it back to where it used to be. It’s a good town. I want the town to grow, not die.”

Council Vice President William Latchford also will seek the mayor’s seat, he confirmed.

“The mayor, to me, is basically like the figurehead of the town,” Latchford said. “I think Mayor Fink has done a great job. We had a few hiccups here and there, but it’s bound to happen to anybody.”

Latchford said he was first appointed to fill a council vacancy in the mid-1990s and went on to win re-election multiple times.

He has been a council member for more than 20 years, he said, explaining he is now in the process of amassing election petition signatures.

Latchford said he plans to create “as much of a positive spin as possible” for Tyrone. He also spoke about an interest in attracting businesses to the community.

Latchford’s council seat is up for re-election this year, as well. He is permitted to run for re-election to that seat while also seeking the mayorship. However, he said he will limit himself to one race.

“I don’t think that is fair to do to the community,” Latchford said of seeking both seats.

Mills’ council term, which began last year, does not expire until 2020. If he wins the mayoral race, Mills will vacate his council seat, and a replacement will be appointed. If he loses, Mills will retain his council seat, elections officials confirmed.

Tyrone’s mayor is also council’s president and is able to cast votes on borough business. The borough’s home rule charter also specifies that “the mayor shall be recognized as head of borough government.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, Mills was the only person to file a petition for the mayoral race, according to the Blair County Elections Office.

Currently, it is unclear whether anyone else plans to enter the race. The last day to file election petitions is March 7.

Mirror Staff Writer Sean Sauro is at 946-7535.

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