LORAIN, Ohio — Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer held one last news conference Friday before his resignation takes effect.
The news conference was more about Lorain Police Chief Cel Rivera, who announced his retirement, but Ritenauer made a brief statement to say farewell.
"It's been really my honor to serve all of you as your mayor the last 7 1/2 years," Ritenauer said. "This is definitely bittersweet in terms of the next chapter in my family's life, but it's definitely the right call with a young family."
Ritenauer, 34, announced his plans to resign earlier this month, citing hopes to focus on family and the recent birth of his daughter as the reason.
"My wife has only known me as a mayor. I do not want that for my daughter in these early, important years," Ritenauer said when he announced his resignation in a tweet.
Ritenauer has accepted a new job as director of mergers, acquisitions and business development at Republic Services in Crestwood, Illinois. His resignation as mayor will officially take effect tonight at 11:59 p.m.
Ritenauer was first elected mayor of his hometown back in 2011.
He filed to run for reelection back on Feb. 6, just two days after his daughter's birth. Now, he claims he would not have filed, "had I known then what I know now."
The Lorain City Democratic Central Committee is responsible for appointing a replacement to fill out the remainder of the mayor's term, as well as choosing someone to run in the 2019 general election against Republican Jessie Tower in November.
