Leonhard named to city council (9/20/05)

For the second time in three weeks, a new Democrat has been named to the Portland City Council.

Jerry Leonhard, 321 E. North St., Portland, was selected Monday night by the Jay County Democratic Party to fill a seat left vacant when District 3 Councilman John Patterson, also a Democrat, resigned.

Leonhard will join Democrat Jim Sanders on the council. Sanders was chosen on Aug. 23 to fill the at-large seat left vacant when Democrat Linda Kennedy was named city clerk-treasurer.

Kennedy was named Aug. 10 to replace city clerk-treasurer Barbara Blackford, who died on July 20.

Jay County Democratic Party chairman Tim Southworth said this morning, Patterson submitted his letter of resignation on Aug. 23.

Patterson resigned because he moved to Pennville, Southworth said. He was elected in November of 2003, and there are two years left in his term.

The Commercial Review was not notified of Monday’s meeting or that Patterson had resigned until this morning. Southworth said public notice was not required before the Democrats met to select a new council member.

Portland resident Todd Hummer also vied for the council seat.

Southworth declined to reveal what the vote was Monday night, but said he did not have to vote to break a tie.

Leonhard said this morning he decided to apply for the position because, “I wanted to be able to see what’s going on (in the city) and listen to the people.”

Leonhard said this is the third time he has attempted to fill a seat on the council. He last ran for city council about four years ago.

He has worked at Franklin Electric in Portland for more than two years. He is married and has two grown sons and five grandchildren.

Leonhard said he expects his first meeting with the council to be Monday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. He doesn’t know when he will be sworn in.[[In-content Ad]]