LONG-SERVING Launceston alderman Ray Shipp will not seek a further term on the council.
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Alderman Shipp, 85, became the second of six aldermen due for re-election next month to declare his intentions.
His decision yesterday ended speculation on whether the veteran local government politician would try for another four years.
Alderman Shipp has made his decision early enough to give other prospective candidates time to nominate by September 26 and campaign before the election by post between October 11-25.
The six jobs up for grabs already look like being fiercely contested.
Jeremy Ball is the only other alderman so far to reveal his plans.
Alderman Ball said late last month that he would stand for re-election as an alderman and contest the deputy mayor's position.
Aldermen Tony Peck, Annette Waddle, Frank Nott and Ivan Dean still haven't revealed their plans.
Launceston men Danny Gibson and Nick Hutchison have confirmed they will nominate, while newly retired Launceston businessman Hugh McKenzie and community worker Lyn Mitchell also intend to take a tilt at council.
Former restaurant proprietor Clare Jokuszies was seriously considering a nomination.
It is understood that former state cricketer, sports journalist and Bass Liberal MHA Tony Benneworth would also nominate.
Alderman Shipp said yesterday that it had been a difficult decision not to stand again.
"I love it," he said of his many years on the council.
Alderman Shipp was MLC for Launceston from 1968 to 1982 then stood successfully for the council in 1985. He was re- elected each time he stood since then.
He was deputy mayor to John Lees in the last term before the system changed so that the two senior council positions were elected publicly rather than internally by their fellow aldermen.
He was also chairman of the York Park committee at the time of the sporting precinct's first major development in the late 1990s.