KRISTIANSAND: – I must admit that the mayoral term was a little different than I had imagined. It has been demanding in several ways, says mayor Jan Oddvar Skisland (Labor Party) to Fædrelandsvennen.
On Sunday, he informed Astrid Hilde in the nomination committee that he will not run as mayoral candidate for the Labor Party in the next election in 2023. In an e-mail to her, he writes:
“For two periods, I have had the opportunity to serve the municipality as mayor, and I have come to the conclusion that it is nice to bring in other forces. The party’s values are important to highlight in politics in Kristiansand, and I am confident that we have good candidates to do this in the future.
Challenges and opportunities
After telling about this, Skisland went for a walk in the afternoon sun to The Inverted Boat. When he returned home, he elaborated on the decision to Fædrelandsvennen:
– How long have you known that you will not stand for re-election?
– Everything is relative. It was four years I said yes to in the first place, so it has not been far in the consciousness to continue after that, says Skisland.
In the letter to the nomination committee he writes:
“There is still more than a year and a half left of my term as mayor, and I am well motivated to do the best possible job for Kristiansand going forward. We have great challenges and opportunities ».
Quarrels have contributed
To Fædrelandsvennen he elaborates:
– It has become challenging both due to the pandemic, and due to the composition of the city council. There has at times been a special mood in the city council, although it has started to get a little better now.
– In what way has unrest in the city council, including in connection with social media, influenced your decision?
– It has contributed, but it has not been decisive.
– Is there a time when you have thought that «Now that’s enough. Now I do not want more »?
– No, I can not point to any specific time there, says the mayor.
Three city council terms
Skisland has been mayor of Kristiansand since the election in 2019, and then became the first Labor mayor in the city since 1947. He was also mayor in the period 2003 to 2007, but then for the Christian People’s Party. In the city council period 2011 to 2015, he sat as an ordinary city council member for the Labor Party. Now he thinks it is good to have been told in good time that he is not running for re-election.
He also says that he is “a little worried” about how the city council composition will be in the next period:
– Both in Kristiansand, in Norway and in Europe, the political landscape is changing. What I would call favsaks parties have gained greater influence, and there is no good development, he says.
Pointing to Dark
– You also write to the nomination committee that you want to let go of others. Do you have someone specific in mind?
– We have a nice city council group with several good candidates. Group leader Kenneth Mørk is one of them, says Jan Oddvar Skisland.
He states that he will probably return to his position as director at UiA, from which he has leave, when the term of mayor is over.
– Are you done with politics now?
– Yes, I think so. By the way, I also said that last time I resigned as mayor.
Compassion
Group leader Kenneth Mørk says this to Fædrelandsvennen:
– I have probably known about this for a while, because me and Jan Oddvar talk about a lot. He has a humanity and a view of values that the city needs, so this is a loss, says Mørk.
He can not say exactly how long he has known about the mayor’s impending resignation.
– Were you surprised when you found out?
Strong field
– Both yes and no. I probably guessed it went this way.
– How do you think it is with possible heirs in the party and group?
– We are strong there, but I would rather record this to the nomination committee, says Mørk.
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