Renner expected back at mayor’s job this weekend

Posted on September 26, 2017

 

Mayor Pro tem Karen Schmidt expects Mayor Tari Renner to be at work October 1 after taking about a month’s leave of absence. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Tari Renner)

 

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner will be back on the job next Sunday after taking about a month’s leave for what he said are medical-related reasons.

Mayor Pro tem Karen Schmidt said she expects Monday’s night’s council meeting was her last in the Mayor’s chair.

“Mayor Renner has indicted he’s prepared to come back full steam on October 1, which is next Sunday,” said Schmidt.

“And, I’m anticipating he’ll be running the council meeting starting October 9. We’re looking forward to having him back,” the veteran council member added.

Schmidt said she’s respected Renner’s request for privacy and is not aware of the medical issues that led him to take his leave.

During his time off, Renner continued to teach political science at Illinois Wesleyan University. Schmidt is IWU’s librarian.

Schmidt expects the mayor, elected last Spring to a second, four-year term, will be involved in the search for City Manager David Hales’ replacement.

Hales is leaving in late November to become Joliet’s city manager.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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