Winter Park Mayor Ken Bradley to not seek re-election

Winter Park will have a new mayor by next March.

Mayor Ken Bradley announced that he would not be running for a third term Tuesday due to multiple personal reasons.

“At this point, after careful contemplation, I have chosen not to seek a third term,” Bradley said. “I’m going to finish my term out. I look forward to serving through March and really believe the city is ready for a new generation of leadership.”

Bradley said that both his family life and position as CEO of Winter Park Hospital demand greater attention moving forward.

“There’s a definite element of sacrifice that comes with public service, and I’ve enjoyed doing that,” Bradley said. “…I know I’ve disadvantaged my family from time to time having to choose between oral events and activities and spending time with them.”

“The thing that is very important to me is something called balance,” he said. “That’s been nonexistent in my life.”

Bradley has served as the mayor of Winter Park since 2009, getting reelected in 2012 with more than 71 percent of the vote.

During his nearly six years in office, Bradley oversaw the completion of SunRail in Winter Park and has kept property taxes at a standstill. City reserves have also grown from roughly six percent to around 27 percent during Bradley’s tenure.

“As I look back on where the city has come – and I’ve done some real thinking about that over the last few days – I think our city is infinitely better than where we were five and half years ago when I became mayor,” Bradley said. “Both with the visioning that’s happening and new waves of interesting developments, I think it’s time for new leadership.”

“I’ve done what I feel like I came to do.”

As for whether he’ll ever run for public office in the future, Bradley said he wouldn’t rule it out.

“I’ll never say never,” Bradley said.