By Rich Larson
In an emotional announcement on Tuesday morning, Glenn Switzer, who has led Dundas as mayor for more than two decades announced that he will not seek re-election in November.
Switzer made the announcement during a radio interview alongside Dundas City Administrator Jenelle Teppen, bringing to a close a remarkable chapter in the city’s history. While visibly reflective about the decision, Switzer said the timing felt right as Dundas enters a period of stability and growth.
“Twenty-three years ago, I made the decision because Dundas was at a crossroads,” Switzer said. “I felt like I had something to offer the community.”
First elected in 2002 and serving all but a two-year interruption since then, Switzer has spent more than a third of his life helping guide the city through significant change. He recalled a community that was preparing for growth but lacked many of the processes and planning tools that are now routine.
“The first budget I ever received was finished five minutes before the meeting on a page-and-a-half legal handwritten,” he said. “That is not how we do it today.”
Throughout the interview, Switzer emphasized that Dundas’ accomplishments were the product of collaboration among council members, city staff, administrators and residents. He credited former administrators Pete Connor and John McCarthy, along with current City Administrator Jenelle Teppen, for helping create a strong foundation for the city.
Teppen, who has worked closely with Switzer for seven years, acknowledged the significance of his decision.
“I’ve just been blessed with Glenn as a mayor and as a friend,” she said. “This has been a topic of conversation for a while now, and I’ve asked him repeatedly not to make this decision.”
Switzer said the decision was made easier by the city’s current position. He described the past decade as a “quiet period” marked by effective planning, experienced staff and strong cooperation among council members.
“There’s so much that’s in place that allows the city to have seven-minute city council meetings,” he joked. “That allows me to feel good about stepping away.”
Away from City Hall, Switzer plans to devote more time to his growing business ventures at the Gardens of Castle Rock, including new building projects, a developing winery and a recently launched catering and beverage company. He also hopes to spend more time tending an expanded vegetable garden and traveling with his family.
Despite leaving elected office, Switzer made it clear he is not leaving the community.
“There will always be someone willing to step up and say it’s their turn,” he said. “I feel confident that someone will step up.”
Candidate filing for local offices opened Tuesday morning. Switzer encouraged anyone interested in serving to reach out to him for guidance.
Switzer’s term officially ends at the close of the year, giving Dundas six months to prepare for the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
