Incumbent Tom Stevens confirmed Wednesday that he would seek a third term as Mayor of Hillsborough.

In an open letter posted on his Web site, Stevens said he wanted to "continue to be a passionate spokesperson for our town and community, and offer seasoned leadership aimed at bringing the efforts of many people together."

"Mayors across the Triangle are letting their citizens know whether they are running again," said Stevens. "I wanted to let people in Hillsborough know I am ready to stay on the job."

Dear Friends & Fellow Citizens,

It is a privilege to serve as Mayor of Hillsborough, and I am pleased to announce I will run for a third term.

In my initial 2005 campaign for office, I pledged "to be a passionate spokesperson for this town that is my home," and to offer "strong leadership so our town board and citizens together can create a vision and action plan for Hillsborough's future." I wrote about our town's potential to be a "showcase of what is right about small town America."

We are moving in the right direction. I believe a widely shared vision of our town has emerged, a vision that emphasizes small-town character, celebrating our heritage, sustainable prosperity for folks from all walks of life, and community vitality you can feel walking down the street. As a community we are taking action to fulfill that vision, as evidenced by new parks, new businesses, new events, and new neighborhoods that contribute to the community. No less important is the growing interest in celebrating and preserving our natural and cultural heritage. A steady stream of local, state, and national attention highlight great things that are "happening" in Hillsborough. Our small town gives us much to be proud of and enjoy.

While we can point to many achievements, we can't afford to be complacent. Especially in these current times, our decisions have far-reaching impact in shaping our quality of life both in the near future and for generations to come.

It takes many heads, hands, and hearts to preserve the Hillsborough we love while shaping the Hillsborough we envision. As your mayor I will continue to be a passionate spokesperson for our town and community, and offer seasoned leadership aimed at bringing the efforts of many people together for the benefit of our town.

Tom Stevens