KBIA Local
(2008-08-28)
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Brian Crane is the second third ward council member to resign in six weeks. Jane Smith left for a job in Washington D-C and Crane is also making a career move. Jefferson City mayor John Landwehr says it's nothing for residents to be concerned about.
If a couple people in the ward just decided they don't want to be councilmen anymore because they don't like it, I guess that would be something we'd want to kind of look at like why are you leaving? But, in both these cases, in Jane's case and Brian's case, they found very nice positions elsewhere that just caused them to relocate and it's certainly not a reflection on the ward by any means.
Crane accepted the position as city administrator of Unionville, located in Putnam County. He says he feels like it's an opportunity he can't pass up, since he has a political science background and is about to graduate with a Masters in Business Administration. Crane has been a council person for nearly five years and was recently reelected in April. He says he has some unfinished business to wrap up before he leaves. As Chairman of the Conference Center Committee, he says it's hard to step away from the project since it's in the final stages.
I want to make sure that I leave that in a good position to where they can take over and keep going and we can get that accomplished. There's also some sidewalk ordinance issues that I've had problems with, with some of my constituents, so I'm going to try to help them deal with those problems.
It's up to the council will decide who will fill the vacant seat. Council members will nominate third ward residents and those interested in the position can contact the council. Mayor Landwehr says the council is open to multiple nominations. The candidates will appear in public forums within the next couple weeks.
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