Midland Mayor Unexpectedly Decides Not To Seek Re-Election, Here is Why

With only three months until the election, Midland mayor Patrick Payton decides not to seek a second term.

According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, the decision not to seek re-election followed many discussions with his wife about things related to another campaign and three more years as mayor of Midland.

Payton ran for mayor in 2019 and much of his first term has been a torturous one having to deal with a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, negative oil, mask mandates, and dealing with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was much more than I thought it was going to be,” said Payton. “Everything that nobody could have dreamt or expected.”

The office of the mayor as well as District 3 and District 4 seats are on the ballot for November.

If you would like to throw your hat into the ring for mayor, the sign-up period started on July 25 and runs until August 22.

Payton said in March that he would seek another term stating the tens of millions of dollars that has and will be invested into the city's parks, finishing the council's measures in support of Midland firefighters and police officers, and making roads and infrastructure a priority being the main reasons he wanted to seek a second term.

He said on Thursday (August 4) that he is happy with what he has done and what he was supposed to do and that not running will not be that difficult because he hadn't even filed paperwork yet to be a candidate.

Payton will finish out his term as well as remain on the board for the Midland Firefighters' Relief and Retirement Fund until the problems with the fund are solved.