BREAKING: Windermere mayor won’t seek reelection

Town of Windermere Mayor Jim O’Brien won’t be seeking reelection.

O’Brien has spent the last 15 years in elected service for the town and is in his third two-year term as mayor. He took the seat in 2019, succeeding retiring Mayor Gary Bruhn. Before that, he served eight years on the Town Council.

“Serving as your mayor and member of Town Council has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime,” O’Brien wrote in a prepared statement. “After much reflection and discussion with my family, I am writing to share that I will not be seeking reelection as your mayor during the upcoming election cycle, concluding 15 years of elected service to the town of Windermere.

“When I first took the oath of office, my goal was simple: to preserve the unique charm and historic character of Windermere while ensuring we built a sustainable and safe future for the generations to follow,” he wrote. “Over the last decade and a half, we have navigated challenges and celebrated triumphs together. From restoring trust and integrity in our Police Department, building new and modern town facilities, bringing life to our downtown, ensuring responsible growth, listening carefully to our neighbors and culminating with the celebration of our town centennial, I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together.

“Our town is not defined by its buildings or its dirt roads but by its people,” O’Brien wrote. “I want to thank the dedicated town staff, the tireless members of our committees, and my colleagues on Town Council — past and present  —and all the West Orange community for their leadership, partnership and support. Most importantly, I want to thank you, the residents, for your trust, your feedback, and your unwavering commitment to the town I am so proud to call home. 

“While my time in elected office is drawing to a close, my commitment to Windermere is not,” he wrote. “I look forward to spending the remainder of my term focusing on the completion of town projects, supporting our staff and Town Council, while ensuring a smooth transition process. I look forward to watching Windermere rise to meet the challenges faced by local governments today and am fully confident in the leadership of those who answer the call to serve in the future. I am excited to return to the role of ‘citizen’ and neighbor and enjoying our town’s beauty alongside all of you.”