Last Updated on December 7, 2017 by cassnetwork
A Logansport City Council member has tendered his resignation to allow the man elected to represent the city’s 4th Ward to assume his seat.
Councilman Joe Ness said in a letter to Mayor Dave Kitchell and Council President Teresa Popejoy today that he has enjoyed serving and credited the council and the administration for moving the city in a positive direction.
Ness, a 1977 LHS graduate who played on the school’s second state championship team, was appointed by Democratic precinct committeemen to serve in place of Scott Peattie, who won the seat in the 2015 city election. Peattie could not serve because he was employed with the Logansport Municipal Utilities. Although he was initially cleared to run by election officials, a statute that determined he was ineligible was discovered during a city official orientation in Carmel. Peattie recently announced his retirement from LMU later this month.
Mayor Kitchell said Ness’ background as a former Logansport firefighter added depth to a council in that area. Ness pledged to serve only as long as it took for Peattie to reach his retirement threshold with LMU.
“We’re fortunate to have people like Joe who stepped up at a time when a vague state law had an impact on our council membership,” Kitchell said. “We wish him nothing but the best and thank him for his service to the council and the community.”
Democrat precinct committeemen are expected to meet later this month to formally select Peattie as Ness’ replacement for the remaining two years of the term.
SOURCE: News release from Logansport Mayor Dave Kitchell