After 16 years in municipal politics, including 12 as mayor, Shawn Pankow says he will not seek re-election this fall, citing the demands of the job and a desire for more balance and time with his family.
“Entering public office is not an easy decision. Leaving it is even tougher,” Pankow wrote in a public statement Thursday, Aug. 8.
Pankow was first elected to Smiths Falls council in 2010 and successfully ran for mayor in 2014. He went on to serve three terms in the mayor’s chair.
He said his entry into municipal politics was motivated by the economic challenges Smiths Falls was facing following major job losses associated with the closures of Hershey Canada, Rideau Regional Centre and Stanley Tools.
“These were very challenging years,” Pankow wrote. “The tax base had shrunk, unemployment was high, there was little new home construction and most capital work had to be financed with debt.”
When he ran for mayor four years later, Pankow said his campaign focused on progress, residential development, population growth and improving quality of life in Smiths Falls.
“At the time, I never envisioned serving three terms as mayor,” he wrote.
Pankow pointed to residential development and population growth as among the changes he has witnessed during his time as mayor, saying newcomers have opened businesses, made connections and become active members of the community.
“The greatest reward of being mayor is hearing from people who outwardly love our town, especially newcomers,” he wrote.
But Pankow also reflected on problems that remain unresolved.
He identified homelessness, housing affordability, food insecurity, access to mental health supports and the addiction crisis among issues that have weighed heavily on him.
“Although we have made positive steps with all of these challenges, there is far more work to do than has been done,” he wrote.
Pankow said the demands of serving as mayor have extended well beyond council meetings and town hall.
“The role of mayor is truly 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year,” he stated. “There is little opportunity for separation, even on weekends, holidays and vacations.”
He acknowledged that approach may not be shared by every mayor, but said unresolved problems have been difficult for him to leave behind.
“As long as there is an unresolved issue, I’m wanting to find a solution. It can be very consuming.”
Ultimately, Pankow said the decision not to run again came down to wanting a different balance in his life.
“So, I have decided I want better balance in my life and more time with my family,” he noted.
He said stepping away will give him more opportunity to return to sport and recreational activities he has left behind during his years as mayor and allow him to be more attentive to his family.
Pankow thanked his wife, Tracey, his children and extended family for supporting him throughout his political career, including stepping in when his responsibilities as mayor took precedence.
He also credited the councillors and municipal employees he has worked alongside, stressing that decisions made during his tenure were not his alone.
“While the public may perceive many municipal decisions as mine, I am but one vote,” Pankow wrote. “The majority of Council carries every decision, that is democracy.”
He also praised town staff, writing that while council makes decisions, “the real work happens with the staff.”
Pankow’s announcement comes as he begins what he described as his final 100 days in office. He said he intends to spend that time recognizing people and organizations that have influenced his work and contributed to Smiths Falls.
In a separate reflection Friday, Pankow traced his political career back to an encounter in the winter of 1987 with Canadian journalist, author and radio host Bob Shrier.
Shrier gave him a copy of his book Let’s Think for a Minute Ideas, which encouraged readers to create a lifetime goal list. One of Pankow’s goals was to run for elected office.
He forgot about the list.
Twenty-three years later, Tracey found it among belongings he had packed away. With the town facing economic challenges at the time, Pankow said she reminded him of the goal and encouraged him to run for council.
He was elected in 2010.
Shrier died in 2007, but Pankow said the encounter had an influence that lasted decades.
“Bob Shrier likely forgot about our conversation and signing the book for me,” he wrote. “He died in 2007 but the impact he had on me twenty years earlier led to my journey over the past sixteen years.”
As he prepares to leave office, Pankow said he believes the foundation established during his tenure will continue under future councils.
He described his experience as mayor as overwhelmingly positive.
“I have enjoyed 99% of my experience as Mayor,” Pankow wrote. “It has been incredibly enriching and I have had the opportunity to learn so much about so many things I would otherwise know little about.”
He closed his announcement with a reflection on what the job has meant to him.
“The Mayor’s work has made me a better person. I hope my work has made my community a better place.”
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Thank you but it is time for change in Smiths Falls . We all have our time unfortunately.