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A former mayor of Cork will not participate in local elections next year.
Fine Gael Cllr John Buttimer spoke of the pressure weighing on the balance between work commitments and the increasingly full-time nature of local politics.
A psychologist with the Cope Foundation, he represents the southwestern neighborhood since being co-opted to Cork City Council in 2007 to replace his brother, Senator Jerry Buttimer.
He confirmed his decision in correspondence sent to party members earlier in the day.
He is the third member of the city council – after Fianna Fáil Cllr Tom O'Driscoll and Solidarity Cllr Marion O'Sullivan – to confirm that they will not participate in the local elections next May.
More counselors should be doing similar announcements in the next few weeks.
In his letter to party members, Buttimer said he made the decision with "an overwhelming sense of regret". But he said that the role of a local public representative is becoming more and more professional and full time.
"I struggled to reconcile the demands of work with the duties and expectations of a representative of the public," he said.
The proposed boundary changes with the enlargement of the local electoral area starting in 2019 will make this task even more difficult.
"I remain committed to Fine Gael and the support of the party for it to get three seats in our electoral area in May 2019.
"I will continue to work closely with Senator Jerry Buttimer to ensure Fine Gael gets two seats in the next general election."
Mr. Buttimer was co-opted to the board in 2007 and re-elected in 2009 and 2014.
During his term as mayor in 2012 and 2013, he was diagnosed and treated for Hodgkin lymphoma.
Despite intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, he continues to serve as mayor.
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