Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop says he will not run for a third term next year. He made the announcement shortly after midterm elections this week.
He says it comes down to two things, family and desire to retire.
“I've got two more members of my family that I didn't have, when I started this job, I've got two grandchildren, now, little boy and a little girl, and I want to be able to spend a little bit more time with them,” he said.
Lienhoop is an accountant who joined the Columbus City Council in 2012. He defeated incumbent Mayor Kristen Brown in the Republican primary in 2015. He ran uncontested in that year’s municipal election as well as in 2019.
“I have a deep affinity for Columbus and I felt at the time that it wasn't being very well led. And I felt like we could, we could improve on that.”
Lienhoop says he’s been able to accomplish his goals by widespread support throughout the community. He says collaborations, partnerships, and compromise helped complete the railroad overpass project and progress on alliance for substance abuse programs.
“Politics has become a little bit more contentious in the time that I've served here. And it is, it's a very worthwhile and rewarding position. But you have got to be, I'll just go ahead and say you got to be a little thick skinned.”
His term ends December 31 of 2023.
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