Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes is retiring after this term of council now that she feels better about a new candidate entering the election.

"I've been thinking about retiring for about a year," Holmes said Thursday.

She didn't feel good about the slate of candidates filing their election papers for Somerset ward. So, she signed up for re-election.

But when a city bureaucrat and former assistant came to her earlier this year to gauge her intentions, Holmes knew there was a potential successor in the wings.

That City Hall insider is Catherine McKenney, the strategic support co-ordinator for deputy city manager Steve Kanellakos. McKenney told council Thursday that she's taking an unpaid leave of absence to pursue the Somerset seat in the Oct. 27 municipal election.

"I live in Somerset ward and am committed to carrying on the tradition of strong leadership in the ward," McKenney wrote in her e-mail to council.

McKenney once worked for Holmes, so the councillor knows her well.

"She's not known as a public person," Holmes said. "She'll have to get out and door-knock nonstop."

Other candidates seeking the Somerset seat are Martin Canning, Thomas McVeigh, Jeff Morrison, Denis Schryburt and Lili Weemen.

As for Holmes, she's looking forward to retirement, which will include more exercise and spending time with family.

She also expects to "sign up for a zillion volunteer roles."

Holmes, 75, was first elected as a councillor in the old Wellington ward in 1982. She was elected regional councillor for Somerset ward in 1994 and elected councillor in the amalgamated city in 2003.

She has witnessed a big change in the downtown ward, which stretches from the O-Train tracks to the Rideau Canal. She has fought for evenhanded growth in the core and better sidewalks in her neighbourhoods.

Holmes has also shown skepticism about where council has been taking the city. This term, she was one of three councillors who voted against the Lansdowne Park P3 redevelopment and was the only vote against a garbage processing deal between the city and Plasco Energy Group.

While there are those on council who don't agree with her left-leaning politics, everyone seems to have deep respect for the outspoken, veteran politician.

Holmes is looking forward to more spare time but acknowledges how strange it will be not going to work at City Hall in December.

"It will be a bit of a shockaroo," she said.

jon.willing@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @JonathanWilling