Geneva City Councilor John Pruett is stepping down.
He serves as Sixth Ward city councilor and in a letter to Mayor Steve Valentino, he cited an array of issues and concerns that brought him to resignation.
“The commonly underproductive and often-hostile working environment in Council creates an unacceptable level of disappointment and anxiety for those who truly strive for civic achievement, and I am one,” Pruett said in the letter. “Now that more than one physician is advising that I diminish stress in my life or suffer the consequences, I am compelled to leave office. Feeling as I do, without hope or expectation for the possibility of truly meaningful accomplishment, it would be less honorable to remain in office than to depart and at (a) happiness and health cost that is unacceptable.”
In the letter, Pruett expressed frustrations with the city’s direction.
“I hope whomever takes my seat can be more effective, because I worry for the future of our fair city,” he added. “However, until fresh, outside influence can be brought into government, I suspect the status quo will prevail. The city has been declining for decades, and only fools argue otherwise.”
He also took issue with City Manager Sage Gerling and Assistant City Manager Adam Blower’s collective leadership, pointing out their lack of business or multi-department budget experience.
He was elected to City Council in 2019 on the Republican line, but as an independent has sided with Democrats on a number of votes over the last two years.
The Sixth Ward is the same one that was left vacant in 2019 for an extended period of time after then-Councilors could not come to terms on filling a vacancy created by the passing of John Greco.
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