SYDNEY MINES, N.S. — After 37 years of public service, Clarence Prince deserves a pass on explaining his decision not to seek re-election in the upcoming municipal vote.
The longtime Sydney Mines councillor, who is 76-years-old and was diagnosed with cancer just 10 months ago, announced Monday that his name will not be on the ballot for the CBRM’s District 1 council seat in the Oct. 17 election.
But Prince, who was the last serving mayor of the former coal mining town prior to the 1995 amalgamation of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, says his age and his health have nothing to do with his decision not to seek yet another term as a CBRM councillor.
“This has nothing to do with age because age is never a barrier, if you have a reasonably sound mind, if you have reasonably good health and if you have a burning desire to do your best for your constituents then go for it,” said Prince, during a Monday morning interview in the home office of his Sydney Mines residence.
“But for me, it’s time to bid farewell — this decision wasn’t an easy one, but after much discussion with Judy (Shebib) and family members I know that it is the right time to leave the political arena.”
Prince, whose father was a coal miner, didn’t get started in politics until he was 39. Prior to that he worked as an accountant at a car dealership and spent time in the employment of both DEVCO and Marine Atlantic.
He even lost his first election, that being for the local school board.
“I was married with four kids at the time and I thought I could make a difference, but I lost,” he laughed.
But running for office had whetted his appetite for greater political involvement and he successfully ran as a ward alderman in the next Sydney Mines election. Then, in 1991, Prince defeated the late Hector DiPersio, a six-year incumbent, to become mayor.
“I was just starting to really enjoy the job of mayor when the province stepped in and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality was created,” he recalled.
If you have a reasonably sound mind, if you have reasonably good health and if you have a burning desire to do your best for your constituents then go for it. — Clarence Prince
Prince served as the first deputy mayor of the new municipality, a position he would go on to hold again. In 2009, he was elected as president of the then-named Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, an organization today known as the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities.
“That was quite an honour to be the top dog of all the municipalities for a year,” chuckled Prince, who along with Glace Bay councillor George MacDonald presently represents the CBRM on the NSFM. “It was challenging, but I met a lot of people and developed friendships that have lasted over the years.”
Veteran councillor Darren Bruckschwaiger is just one of many local representatives who have worked with Prince over the years.
“I have worked with him on CBRM councils since 1997, but I also remember him as the mayor of Sydney Mines back when I was an alderman in the former town of Dominion – he’s a good man and I’ve always had the utmost respect for Clarence,” he said.
“Not only has he been a district councillor, he has also been a regional councillor who cared very much about the entire region, and to me one of the most important parts of this job is to look at things from a regional view and that’s what Clarence has always now.”
CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke, who is also a native of Sydney Mines, was still a teenager when Prince was first elected to the town council.
“To me, Clarence was always synonymous with community – he has never been anything but a gentleman and he was always willing to work with anyone no matter their political stripe or political position,” said Clarke.
“He was, and is, the consummate politician and example of what you are looking for in an elected official and that is someone who can always rise above, remain respectful, agree to disagree, yet continue to come back and not turn his back on the community. He’s always been about public service and about trying to make things better.”
Prince may not be running in the upcoming election, but he’s still busy trying to get things done. In fact, Clarke said on Monday that he had just received a call from Prince who was checking in on the progress of a public works project in Sydney Mines.
He may be leaving politics, but the facial expressions and tone of the affable councillor’s voice appear to belie his true emotions. It seems he is legitimately sad to be stepping down.
But he’s not exiting without dispensing a little advice for those considering public service.
“I really love politics, and I hold a lot of gratitude and thanks to the constituents who saw fit to elect me on a continuous basis and I am really appreciative,” said Prince.
“For those thinking of doing this, I suggest they do a lot of research on the issues, talk to people about the issues and then make a decision based on what you believe to be in the best interests of the community even it doesn’t always go along with other peoples’ thoughts.”
To date, Prince and George MacDonald are the only two incumbent councillors to announce their decision not to seek re-election. Two other council seats will also have new bodies sitting in them. Former District 11 councillor Kendra Coombes was elected to the provincial legislature in March and District 6’s longtime councillor Ray Paruch passed away in April.
