Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn has announced that he will not be seeking another two-year term.
Towards the end of the Ocala City Council meeting that was held on Tuesday, Guinn addressed his future: “So, people have been asking me this question for a long, long time about whether I’m going to run or not going to run, and I’ve made a decision that I’m not going to run for mayor for this next term.”
Guinn assumed the office of Mayor in December of 2011 after serving the City of Ocala as a councilman representing District 4 for 12 years.
During Tuesday’s meeting, council president Jim Hilty told Guinn to “enjoy your vacation,” which elicited a laugh from the mayor. “I’m not going to have a vacation,” said Guinn, and he added that council members will continue to see his face.
“We appreciate what you’ve done, and we know you want to continue doing it from the background,” said Hilty.
Council member Kristen Dreyer turned to Guinn at the end of the meeting and said, “It was a pleasure sitting next to you this whole entire time.”
Council member Jay Musleh also thanked Guinn for his 24-year commitment to the City of Ocala, which Musleh pointed out is a “very long time.”
Once Guinn’s term as the city’s mayor officially comes to an end, he stated that he will continue to be involved in the local community.