CHAUNCEY, Ohio — At its monthly meeting on Jan. 9, Chauncey Village Council formally reorganized the city government, following former mayor Amy Renner’s resignation last month.
“The council that we have in Chancey is just fantastic,” Renner told the Independent. “I have full confidence in them carrying this work on. And I think that things are really looking up for Chauncey, and I don’t need to be the mayor for that to continue.”
The council officially swore in former council president Tammy Hawk as the village’s new mayor, council member Evelyn Nagy told the Independent.
Under Ohio law, the village council president serves as mayor pro tempore until a new mayor can be chosen in the next regularly scheduled municipal election, which will take place in November.
Hawk said in a statement that she decided to officially accept the mayor position after “a lot of soul searching.” Also in her prepared statement, Hawk thanked Renner “for all of her dedication, sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears that she has given to Chauncey the past eight years.”
“I have a profound respect for Amy and wish her the best in her future career, where she will be able to impact other small communities all over the country in the same way that she has impacted ours,” Hawk said in the statement. “I’m looking forward to seeing the excellent work she will do.”
Renner resigned due to a combination of professional and personal responsibilities, she previously told the Independent. Renner works for the Rural Community Assistance Partnership as its community development senior program manager, providing consulting support to rural and tribal communities across the country.
Hawk added, “Filling Amy’s shoes is both an exciting and daunting opportunity. I can only hope to help nurture Amy’s vision for the village for as long as I serve as mayor.”
Hawk referenced ongoing village projects she will oversee as the village’s mayor pro tempore, including the village’s sewer replacement project which was initiated under Renner’s tenure.
“I plan to see these projects through,” Hawk said.
However, Hawk said she will not seek reelection to village council in November. Hawk told the Independent she first became a councilperson around 2014. She was elected to her current term in 2021, the only time she ran for election for the seat, according to Athens County Board of Elections records. She was previously appointed “at least 2 times,” she said in a text message.
With Hawk now serving as mayor pro tempore, the village council unanimously elected Evelyn Nagy as its new council president. The council president fills the mayor’s facilitation role when the mayor is absent from meetings.
Connaught Cullen, who had previously served as council president, declined a nomination to serve as president again.
Hawk’s acceptance of the mayoral role leaves the council with a vacant seat. The council plans to appoint a new member of council at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the Chauncey Dover Volunteer Fire Department, 40 Converse St.
Individuals interested in a position must attend the meeting on Jan. 29 and bring a letter of intent explaining why they want to serve on council, the council said Jan. 9.
