Niles councilman resigns post
By Jordan Cohen
He cited personal reasons for leaving after four months in office.
NILES — Citing “very personal and private circumstances,” 1st Ward Councilman Lee A. Smith resigned after serving only four months of his first term.
His resignation is effective April 30. In his resignation letter to Council President Robert Marino, Smith did not elaborate on the circumstances but said he decided to resign to “concentrate on these personal matters before me.”
Smith wrote that he could “not continue to dedicate my unconditional and full-time support to my duties,” and that his constituents “deserve someone that can give 100 percent of themselves” to council responsibilities.
Calls to Smith’s home were not returned.
Marino said he was surprised by Smith’s decision.
“I don’t really know him that well, but I certainly didn’t expect this,” Marino said.
Niles council members serve two-year terms. Smith’s term expires December 31, 2009.
The city issued a news release Monday announcing that letters of interest from candidates to fill Smith’s unexpired term will be accepted from Thursday to May 14 at the office of the clerk of council in Niles City Hall, 34 West State St. Each candidate must be a registered voter who has lived in the 1st Ward for at least one year.
Marino said that council will choose the replacement instead of party precinct committee members, because Smith did not list a party affiliation when he was elected. Smith won as a write-in candidate over two opponents, also write-ins, by a narrow margin, 32 votes, in November 2007.
Marino said that council must name a replacement within 30 days. If not, Mayor Ralph Infante would have to make the selection.
“I don’t expect that to be necessary, and I think council will act,” Marino said.