Saxonburg mayor to step down after 2026
Saxonburg mayor William Gillespie has announced that he will not seek reelection for the position and he will step down at the end of his current term, which ends in 2026.
“I’ve been doing this since the mid-90s,” Gillespie said. “I think it’s time for others to come up who are younger. Thirty years is enough.”
Gillespie has served as mayor of Saxonburg since March 2016, when he was appointed to finish out the term of Pamela Bauman after her death. Gillespie was subsequently reelected in 2017 and 2021. Prior to his appointment as mayor, Gillespie served on borough council for two decades.
“For nearly 30 years I have served Saxonburg as a member of the council or as your mayor,” wrote Gillespie in a letter addressed to residents of Saxonburg, which can be found on the borough’s website. “It has been an honor and privilege to have received this public trust.”
In his letter, Gillespie publicly endorsed council member Dave Johnston as his preferred successor.
“I believe he has the best knowledge, wisdom and personality to assume the responsibility of public safety as your next mayor and as executive of our local government,” Gillespie wrote. “The relationship that Dave already has with southeastern Butler County leaders also makes him the right choice to lead Saxonburg police's plan to extend an extra level of public safety over our area.”
Ironically, Gillespie defeated Johnston to win the mayoral position in the 2017 general election. He was unopposed in winning reelection in 2021, as Johnston chose not to run that year.
“I did not know Bill at that time,” Johnston said. “And what I told him, after I lost the election to him, was that I would never run against him again. Because I respect Bill and what he has done for the borough.”
Johnston said when Gillespie informed him of his decision, he tried to convince Gillespie to run for one more term, but Gillespie was insistent.
“He's represented the borough for 30 years at different capacities,” Johnston said. “He just wants to step down, and I respect that. So I told him that I would run for mayor.”
At the moment, Johnston is the only candidate who has declared for this year’s Saxonburg mayoral election, although that could change in the coming months.
