“The ambitous side of me would like to go forward, but ... for personal reasons it's just not the right time,” the veteran Ward 6 (east Mountain) councillor said this week.

He would not elaborate on the personal reasons, but noted he had been considering a run at the mayor’s seat for more than two months and many people had shown support for a possible campaign. He did not rule out a run in a future election.

Jackson said he expects to file his nomination papers for the Ward 6 councillor spot in the early summer. He’s held that position since 1988.

He said there are many current issues he wants to see through in his ward, including the master truck route and pedestrian bridge over the east end of the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway. Jackson said he also wants to continue pushing for infrastructure renewal on the east Mountain, has two “major initiatives” involving commercial head offices in the works for the Red Hill industrial park that could come to fruition in the next 24 months, and is pushing for renovations for city-run seniors homes on Macassa Avenue and at 801 Upper Gage.