CANTON – In the wake of Mayor Mary Ann Ashley’s announcement that she will not be seeking another term as mayor, the deputy mayor is now saying he will seek the nomination of the Republican Party to run for the seat himself.

Village trustee and deputy mayor Michael Dalton said in a Letter to the Editor of NorthCountryNow.com that he believes he is has the experience to do the job, and, as a recent retiree, the time to devote to the post.

“I believe that my roles in village government as a current trustee, sitting deputy mayor, and former fire department chief give me the knowledge and experience to lead our village,” he said.

A priority will be the development of a solar power installation for the village.

“One of my particular areas of focus since becoming deputy mayor is the development of a municipal solar farm for the community. To date, we have contracted a project that will ultimately save our taxpayers nearly $1.9 million over the next 20 years,” he said in his letter.

“As mayor, my focus will be strengthening village infrastructure, a continued focus on supporting our work force, and controlling our finances. The village needs consistency and stability as we transition from Mayor Ashley and I am committed to continuing our progress.

“As deputy mayor, I understand the workload; as a recent retiree, I have the time required to give it my full attention,” Dalton said.

He also thanked Mayor Ashley “for her service and wish her the best as she continues her journey.”