Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel showered with praise as he announces retirement

Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel isn't as well known nationally as his Calgary counterpart Naheed Nenshi or, thank God, Toronto's Rob Ford, but he's being well remembered after announcing he's not running for re-election this fall.

Mandel, 67, said Tuesday that he won't seek a fourth term in October's municipal elections, the Edmonton Journal reported. He made the announcement with his wife, Lynn, at his side at the Art Gallery of Alberta, one of the projects he pushed to help revive the provincial capital's downtown core.

“There’s always more to do,” Mandel said. “Edmonton is a big, growing city.

“We’ve been very lucky to have a group of people passionate about this city, willing to move forward, take risks."

CBC News reported Mandel pointed to other tough challenges city council has faced during his tenure, such as homelessness and regional balance, as well as increasing residential density in core neighbourhoods, which made downtown revitalization even more important.

"We want our city not merely to exist, but thrive," he said.

Mandel came to Edmonton from his hometown of Windsor, Ont., in the early 1970s. The businessman was first elected to city council in 2001 and won the mayor's chair three years later. His mission was to give the city's dull downtown a facelift.

“The time has passed when square boxes with minimal features and lame landscaping are acceptable," he said in 2005, according to the Journal. "Our tolerance for crap is now zero."

He had been expected to outline his plans more than a month ago but waited until city council had finalized financial details last week of a massive new downtown arena complex before announce whether he'd run again.

[ Related: Edmonton city council passes new arena deal ]

The $480-million project, funded with private, Alberta government and city money, is intended to anchor redevelopment of a moribund part of downtown and give the NHL's Edmonton Oilers a glitzy new place to play.

Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths issued a statement saying Mandel was “tireless in his vision of transforming Alberta’s capital into a prosperous, modern, and welcoming city.

“Throughout his mandate, he worked hard to build partnerships with his colleagues on city council, other levels of government, the business sector, and the community, to build a stronger capital region.

“While I believe his passion for these pursuits will not end with his term as mayor, he has already left his mark on the city by creating a vibrant arts and culture scene in the downtown, and with the significant support he has built for marginalized people, including the city’s 10-year plan to end homelessness. His legacy will be seen and experienced by Edmontonians for many years to come.”

[ Related: Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel bows out ]

Premier Alison Redford also tweeted her praise for Mandel.

And this.

The praise for Mandel crossed party lines, like this tweet from the Opposition Alberta Liberals.

Even media types gushed.

Edmonton Sun sports writer Terry Jones echoed other observers with this:

Nice way to go out, hey Rob?