Outgoing mayor Eddie Francis is set to begin his new life as a private citizen in a few weeks, but tonight's city council meeting will be his last.
Francis was first elected as the city councillor for Ward 5 in 1999 after Rick Limoges resigned. Since then, he's served one term as councillor and three as mayor. First elected mayor in 2002, he is the youngest to hold the position at the age of 29.
Political scientist Lloyd Brown-John has watched Francis's tenure closely. He has no doubt future residents will remember Francis as one of the city's best mayors, but says it'll be some time before his legacy can be determined. "If all of these places like the WFCU (Centre) and the water sport place (Windsor Family Aquatic Centre) succeed, he'll be remembered as the guy who built the best sport complexes in the town," says Brown-John. "If ten or fifteen years from now we discover we're in deep debt, and it's costing us enormous amounts of money to keep them afloat, he'll be remembered as the guy that helped put us into debt."
Francis is the new executive vice-president of operations and member experience at the Windsor Family Credit Union, one of three lieutenants to president Marty Komsa. He begins his new job next month.
Drew Dilkens takes over as mayor December 1.
Tonight's meeting is also the last one for councillors Ron Jones, Alan Halberstadt, Fulvio Valentinis and Al Maghnieh.