Mayor says he will not seek re-election

NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Mayor Robert Carson announced Monday that he will not seek re-election after his term expires at year's end.
Carson was appointed in April 1999 to fill the unexpired term of Walker Leland, who moved from the village. Carson was then elected to two more terms.
In addition to his years as mayor, he served five years on village council.
First-term council member Harry Kale said Monday he is circulating petitions for mayor and is the only one to have picked up petitions, although the filing deadline is not until August.
Kale, general manager of Tabor Landscaping, was village zoning inspector for seven years and served on the village site design and review committee for four years. He said he would like to maintain the present government and focus on the future.
Two council seats, now held by Dan Stanton and Council President William Douglas, will also expire at the end of the year.