Prue seeking re-election as Amherstburg mayor

Michael Prue

Michael Prue is seeking to keep his job.

Prue filed his nomination papers last Friday and will be seeking re-election as mayor. He was elected mayor in 2022 after serving the previous four years as a councillor.

“I decided to do it one more time,” said Prue. “There are so many things still out there that I want to make sure still happens.”

Work is still going on for the Howard Industrial Lands and Prue said efforts are geared towards bringing development to the lands. The town recently received provincial grant funding to help the process along to develop those lands.

Prue said he is working with a private company to bring employment to Amherstburg, and he believes a deal is possible and getting closer.

“I’m pretty sure they are coming and providing 100 or so jobs,” he said.

Prue added he has asked the prospective company to consider those from Diageo who lost their jobs and have yet to find new ones.

There are still other projects on the go that Prue still wants to work on.

“The (former) Duffy’s lands are opening in August but it’s going to need a lot of work going forward,” he said.

Prue said he wants to work with the First Nations community, noting the area is at the end of the Sauk Trail.

“It seems like a fitting time to do this,” said Prue.

There are other projects he wants to complete, including some promises that were made during the last election campaign. That includes a boat launch at Ranta Park, something he said is still being worked on. There are also developers who want to put in over 1,100 homes in the town’s southeast quadrant.

Taxes were kept in line with the rate of inflation over the last four years with the exception of one year, he added, with that year being when there were a series of expenses the town couldn’t avoid.

Prue acknowledged there is already a race for the mayor’s chair, noting “I’m sure it’s going to be fun” on the campaign trail.

“Amherstburg is a pretty democratic place,” he said. 

Prue touted his experience as mayor, and his over three decades in politics overall.

“I understand how government works and how long it takes to get things done.”

Municipalities have to deal with developers, funding challengers, upper levels of government and more.

“It all takes time and considerable persuasion,” he said.

Acknowledging there are people struggling, Prue hopes to gain new funding for the municipality through provincial funding or through new industry.

Overall, he said he has enjoyed being mayor and wants to do it again for another four years. He said he and wife Shirley were looking to retire when they moved here but have gotten involved in the community instead.

“We love this place,” he said.

Prue seeking re-election as Amherstburg mayor

By Ron Giofu