Leighton confirmed to CP24 on Wednesday that he will not be running for re-election in the upcoming municipal election. He cited his desire to focus more of his energy on fighting climate change while “rebalancing his life” so he could spend more time with his family.
“I want to make sure that all my energy is devoted to what I believe is the next global crisis that we face,” he said. “More energy needs to be put into it and so I will look at what the options are to try and improve the solutions.”
“That’s what I really enjoyed about focusing on City Hall, finding solutions to problems and then scaling them.”
Leighton said he doesn’t have a job lined up, but isn’t considering running for leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party — a position now open after Andrea Horwath resigned. Layton’s father, Jack Layton, served as leader of the federal NDP for about eight years before his death in 2011.
“My second goal in this career change is to balance my life to have more time with my children,” she said. “I don’t think that being the leader of a provincial party, the leader of the official opposition, would do much for that.”
The University-Rosedale councilor has served on the city council for 12 years and was known for expressing progressive ideas, especially when it came to affordable housing and climate change, in addition to transit and bike infrastructure.
Toronto Mayor John Tory said Leighton will be missed on council, adding that he has been an inspiration when it comes to charting a path to reconciliation with indigenous peoples and setting climate change goals across the city.
“Mike Layton is a very decent guy,” Torey said. “I wish him well in his future endeavours. I have a feeling that we haven’t seen the last of him in politics because he is young and can have another career and then go back to politics if he so chooses. I think it’s in his DNA.”
A little more than a quarter of city council races will not have an incumbent in October. Former Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong, Willowdale Councilor John Filion and Davenport Councilor Ana Bailão have also announced they will not seek re-election.
Three other seats have been left open after current councilors stepped down.
Former Toronto Board of Health president and representative for Spadina-Fort York Joe Cressy resigned in April to pursue a career at George Brown College, while Toronto Center Counc. Kristyn Wong-Tam and Etobicoke North Counc. Michael Ford withdrew to run in the provincial election.
Nominations for municipal races are open until August 19. The elections are scheduled for October 24.
