Carolyn Kay Riggle was re-elected for a second term as mayor of Delaware by other City Council members at its biennial re-organization meeting on Monday.
Riggle is one of three at-large council members, along with George Hellinger and Kent Shafer. Only an at-large member can be selected as mayor among the seven-person council. Riggle was nominated and seconded by council members, she accepted the nomination, nominations were closed, and the vote was unanimous.
“I just want to thank the council members for giving me the opportunity to serve as your mayor again,” Riggle said. “I look forward to working with you.”
Riggle has served on council since November 2003, was vice mayor from 2005-2009, and has been mayor since November 2013. The city’s website says: “She serves on the Delaware County Community Improvement Corporation, the Intergovernmental Committee, the Public Works Committee, the Sister City Advisory Board and the Main Street Board. Her term ends November 2017.”
Shafer was nominated and elected as vice mayor, replacing Hellinger. He was elected to council in November 2013, with his term ending in November 2017. Shafer serves on the parking and safety and public works committees.
Hellinger was vice mayor from 2013-2015. He was elected to council in November 2013, with his term ending in November 2017. Hellinger serves on the airport commission, finance committee and Delaware County Community Improvement Corp.
Council members representing the city’s four wards were also sworn in following their election earlier this month. Three of them are incumbents, except for newly elected Kyle Rohrer.
“I am honored and humbled to have been selected to serve for the 4th Ward,” Rohrer said. “Many of you know I worked for the city from 1999 to 2006, so I know many of the staff. This is like a homecoming for me.”
Chris Jones, representing the 1st Ward, has been on council since September 2010. He serves on the parks and recreation advisory board; Historic Preservation Commission; and the parking and safety and public works committees.
Lisa Keller, representing the 2nd Ward, has been on council since July 2008. She serves on the civil service and planning commissions; and the parking and safety committee.
Joe DiGenova, representing the 3rd Ward, has been on council since 2006. He serves on the Board of Zoning Appeals; dog park, finance and public works committees, and is municipal court liaison for council.
DiGenova, who has been battling cancer, thanked his constituents for giving him a seventh term.
”I hope that my health will hold in there and I will be able to serve the four years,” DiGenova said. “But if the cancer gets the best of me, I will resign my seat.”
