Halifax Mayor Mike Savage officially launches re-election campaign

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage took a trip on Theodore Tugboat to the middle of the harbourTuesdayand officially launched his re-election campaign.

"Why Theodore Tugboat?" Savage asked the crowd of supporters. "Theodore is Halifax's official Welcome Ambassador and makes his home in the big harbour that draw so many of us, and our visitors, to its shores."

Savage said over the past four yearshe has delivered on his campaignpromises to run a more open city hall.

Council working effectively

"When I decided to run for mayor, regional council was widely considered dysfunctional, overly personal and not constructive. Today, council is working effectively andmaking good decisions, like our decision last week on Blue Mountain Birch Cove," he said.

Savage cited expanded downtown development, reduced tax rates and an increasingly open government of examples of his successduring his four years in office.

He said his vision for his next term in office includes continuing to build a shared community where everyone has the opportunity to live, belong and thrive.

Savage says no more than 3 terms

Savage was joined on the boatby friend and fellow former MPPeter Stoffer, who threw his endorsement behind the incumbent.

"I can'ttell you how fortunate we are as a municipality to have a man of this calibreat the helm of our ship, as we say," Stoffer said.

• Wooden Monkey owner Lil MacPherson to run for mayor of Halifax

Savage, who was first elected to the HRM's top seat in 2012, told supportershe sees his mayoral career ending after a third term.

"For myself, I have a term limit.It's not imposed by bylaw, but by wife. I will not be mayor for more than three terms.I can guarantee you that here today. I swear on the harbour," he said.

So far, local businesswoman Lil MacPherson, owner of the Wooden Monkey restaurant, is the only other candidate vying for the mayor's seat. Sheannouncedher intention to run back in April.

List of 2016 candidates in Halifax Regional Municipality: