By DAVE SCHULTZ
Roger Thornton has announced he will not seek a second term as Bluffton’s 1st District representative on the city’s Common Council.
Thornton, 77, said there are three primary reasons he’s not seeking reelection — “health, calendar, and bucket list.”
In terms of health, there is a family history of debilitating conditions and he wants to avoid them if possible. “I have to ask myself, ‘Can you read the tea leaves at all?’” he said during a conversation before Tuesday’s meeting of the Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety.
The calendar matter is that there just isn’t enough time for things he wants to do this far into retirement. He has a cousin who lives in Massachusetts, for instance, that he wants to see and he wants to carve out the time to get out there.
The bucket list is just a reflection that there are other things that he and his wife Marge would like to do.
In a letter to Zach Rodgers, chairman of the Wells County Republican Party, Thornton noted the city’s accomplishments since Mayor John Whicker and the current members of the Common Council — himself, Josh Hunt, Rick Elwell, Scott Mentzer, and Janella Stronczek — took office on Jan. 1, 2020. He cited housing, new industry, a new water treatment facility, extension of wastewater treatment lines, cooperation with the Wells County Regional Sewer District, trail improvements, and upcoming improvements to fire and police facilities.
Thornton also serves on the city’s Board of Works and has chaired the Public Safety Task Force, which has examined the future needs of the city’s fire department.
He also wanted to give other candidates plenty of opportunity to consider a run for office. Thornton said he knew that when Whicker announced he would run for mayor in 2018, well before the 2019 municipal election, he had a chance to review his options. “I would hope to do that for the person who follows me,” he said.
The 2023 municipal election will now result in at least three new members serving on the next council. In addition to someone replacing Thornton, the Bluffton Common Council will expand to seven members for the 2023 election bring two new members on board.
daves@news-banner.com
