Ravenna Council President Andrew Kluge resigning; cites job, family commitments
After seven years on Ravenna City Council, Council President Andrew Kluge is resigning.
Kluge announced his resignation at Monday's City Council meeting, citing job and family commitments. His last day in office is March 31. He was elected to his second term last fall, after serving a term as an at-large councilman.
"Serving as your council president has been a privilege and an honor," Kluge said at Monday's meeting. "But I think all good things must come to an end at some point."
The job of City Council president is an elected position in Ravenna. In April, council will select one of its members to serve as president until the next municipal election in 2025, said Chelsea Gregor, clerk of council. Kluge's term expires in 2027.
After a new council president is named, council then will have 30 days to appoint a new person to the vacated seat on council.
Kluge cited a new job and family commitments as reasons for stepping down. When he was first appointed to the city's parks and recreation board in 2015, he cited as a reason for his interest having a say in programming his newborn daughter would participate in some day. Now he has two daughters, ages 6 and 8, and wants to have time to attend their school activities and balance that with the demands of his new job.
"They're only young once," he said.
He thanked his fellow council members, administration and active citizens, and pledged to stay in the city and stay involved.
"There's a lot of work to be done, and I have a lot of faith in the people in this room, and in our citizens," he said.
Kluge, a long-distance runner, said he has no doubt that his fellow council members will see through city projects such as the planned city hall and safety center, the city's comprehensive plan and road projects.
"I've quoted it many times, and I think it's stuck with me, 'you get the baton, you run your race, and then you hand off the baton, and all the control over that,'" he said. "I firmly believe that our city council's in a far better position today than it was four or even six years ago, and together we've laid the groundwork for progress, and I have every confidence that under new leadership, our council will continue to thrive and serve our community with excellence. As I step down from this role, I do it with a sense of pride in all that we've accomplished together, and optimism for the future that lies ahead."
Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Ravenna Council President Andrew Kluge resigning
