Mayor Bancroft taking school board run

In this April 2018, file photo, South Stormont Mayor Jim Bancroft speaks with a constituent during the mayor's breakfast in Long Sault, Ont. Bancroft is making a run for school board trustee in the fall municipal election.(Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston, File)

LONG SAULT – South Stormont Mayor Jim Bancroft still wants to keep his feet in the political pool, opting for a run in the educational arena.

Bancroft has filed his nomination papers to be a school board trustee for the Upper Canada District School Board, serving the counties of Stormont and Glengarry.

As of Friday (July 13), he was facing two challengers for the seat – John Danaher of Bainsville and Marshall Wilson of Alexandria.

Bancroft was a vocal advocate to stop the closure of Rothwell-Osnabruck Secondary School in Ingleside during the school board’s accommodation review. He told Cornwall Newswatch in April it was his biggest disappointment during his term that he wasn’t able to save the school.

The 73-year-old Bancroft announced in April he wouldn’t be seeking re-election as mayor, opting to spend more time travelling with his wife.

There are two people seeking the mayor’s chair – current Deputy Mayor Tammy Hart and former Mayor Bryan McGillis.

Nominations are open until July 27.