Prior to being elected Mayor, Mitton served the city as a Councillor At Large from 1998 to 2004 on Moncton City Council. During that time he was twice elected Deputy Mayor by his fellow Councillors.
Lorne Mitton announced in 2007 that he would not be re-offering in the next municipal election.[1] Mitton officially retired in May 2008, and was succeeded by George LeBlanc, who was sworn into office on May 26, 2008.