Gresham City Councilor John Kilian has resigned effective Saturday, Dec. 8.
If politics was just about leadership and statesmanship, I could honor that, he wrote in an email to the media. But in reality politics is an artificial world of preening, posturing and closed-door deal-making. Thats not my world. Selling my home has allowed reflection on what is truly important to me, which is family, friends, dentistry and the arts.
Kilian said leaving now allows the council and staff to train his replacement along with two newly elected councilors who will take office in January.
He went on to say, Gresham has a wonderful city manager and a great staff, and I wish them the best going forward.
Notably, he does't mention Mayor Shane Bemis, who he disagreed with on whether the city should be represented by councilors who live in a geographically defined district.
Now, councilors serve at large, meaning that although they may represent a particular position on the council, they can live anywhere in the city.
Voters rejected the district concept last month, when they also decided against re-electing longtime Councilor Paul Warr-King to a third four-year term. Warr-King was the only other city councilor to voice support for the districting concept.
Another councilor, David Widmark, did not run for re-election.
A local dentist, Kilian was elected in November 2010, and has two years left in his four-year term, which lasts through 2014.
The council now must appoint a replacement to his position. Voters will then elect a new councilor during the next election.