Councilwoman Peggy Ehora announced her resignation at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Jacob Espinosa | The Lima News
LIMA — Lima council member Peggy Ehora announced her resignation at Monday night’s council meeting.
The former Lima News reporter said she intended to retire from both council and her position at Dominion Energy last year, but due to a shakeup at both places, she chose to stay on until two weeks from now.
“I have a relative with serious health issues, and I want to be available for them,” she said through tears. “This is something I have been planning for a very long time. I wanted to be retired, and my husband has been retired for six years now.”
Council delayed the start of the night’s meeting as Ehora delivered the news. By the end, the news finally became real.
“I think I cried myself to sleep the night you won the election because I knew we had someone who really loved Lima on council,” council president Jamie Dixon said. “I thank you for being a sounding board for myself and each and every one of us on this council.”
There were more tears across the dais as Ehora’s fellow councilors shared their well-wishes.
“You have given us so much, and I am very grateful,” councilor Carla Thompson said.
Council’s newest member, Thomas Jones, shared his appreciation.
“I am grateful, too,” he said. “It’s been a short time, but I am appreciative to know you, and it means a lot to see your sense of confidence in what we are doing here on council.”
Ehora, who joined council in January 2020, returned the sentiments and shared hopes for her seat.
“This has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life,” she said. “It really has been a joyous place to be. For people in the Fourth Ward, they should feel free to throw their hat in the ring because not everybody gets an opportunity to try it on, and there are great people in this ward.”
In a press release after the meeting, Mayor Sharetta Smith said she was honored to work with Ehora.
“Councilwoman Ehora continues to show that women belong in all places where decisions are made,” she said. “It’s been my sincere honor to know her and to serve the Lima community alongside her. Her passion and unwavering commitment to public service have been commendable. On behalf of the City of Lima, I wish her and her family the best.”
All items on council’s agenda were passed, including an ordinance to allow the mayor to amend the contract with the city’s Community Improvement Corporation to carry out rehabilitation and development for local residences.
Councilor Jon Neeper asked Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith for updates from the CIC following the announcement of grant money toward infill development from the state.
“The CIC hired an executive director and is developing a strategic plan using the funding announced from Gov. DeWine last week,” Smith said in response. “They have also identified priority areas concentrating the rehab and development work. That should be where we can get the heavy lifting done and do blocks at a time.”
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
