Boggs recovering from stroke

Portland Major John Boggs is recovering from a stroke.

Boggs’ status came up during Thursday’s Portland Board of Works meeting, from which the mayor was absent. Portland clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips confirmed that Boggs had suffered a stroke.

On Friday, Boggs provided an update to The Commercial Review via a phone call.

“Mentally, I haven’t changed a bit,” said Boggs. “But as far as making meetings or anything like that, I’m not making any right now.”

Speaking from IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Center in Muncie, where he has been recovering and undergoing physical therapy, Boggs said he had a feeding tube removed Friday. 

“I’m glad for that,” he said.

Plans are for his family to meet with doctors Tuesday to discuss a transition home. He said that may include a short stay at a rehabilitation facility, though he said he’s hoping to avoid that step.

In terms of running the city, Boggs said he has been in contact with Portland City Council president Kent McClung, members of the city’s board of works and other local officials.

He said he expects McClung will preside over the next Portland City Council meeting, which is scheduled for Oct. 2, but that he’s hopeful he can be back sooner rather than later.

“The way my recovery has progressed, I can see myself attending meetings in late October or early November,” Boggs said, while adding that he wants to maintain as many of the mayoral duties as he can in the interim.

He said he’s received updates on the ongoing Meridian Street storm sewer project — the two blocks from the Salamonie River to Main Street reopened this week — and that he wishes he had been home to see the progress. But he also expressed confidence in those who are overseeing things while he’s out of the office.

“The city’s in good hands,” he said. “I’ve got good people running it. I’m not the slightest bit worried that anything is going to be anything but what it’s been the last several months.”

Boggs had two strokes in the months leading up to his election victory over Randy Geesaman in 2019. He took office in January 2020 and has suffered two strokes since then.

He is heading into the final months of his term after losing in the GOP primary in May. Jeff Westlake is the Republican candidate for mayor while Geesaman is seeking a return to the office for the Democrats.