Retiring E-Town Leaders Lauded

In serving Elizabethtown over the years, each leader “brought many different assets to the table,” as one of their fellow officials put it.

Borough council members Ken Reighard, Ralph Neidig Jr. and Elie Schmidt, with a combined 60 years of service, have ended their careers on Elizabethtown’s decision-making board.

Council President Reighard spent 34 years in official capacities, including councilman, borough mayor and planning commission member.

Meanwhile, Neidig served 22 years in various capacities, and Councilwoman Schmidt concluded four years in office.

State Rep. David Hickernell joined other council members in bidding farewell to the three, who attended their final borough meetings on Dec. 20.

Hickernell presented citations from the state House of Representatives to them.

Their replacements on council, Tom Shaud, Phil Clark and Jeff McCloud, will take office at council’s reorganizational meeting this Monday night.

“It’s been a great run” over the years, Reighard said.

But “when you get to be my age, it’s time to quit. It’s time to step aside and let younger people do the job.”

His son Ted said he remembers his father first running for mayor about the time he started college: “I’m really proud of him … he’s put in a lot of hours.”

Ken Reighard and Neidig both got a little emotional in saying their farewells at their last meeting.

Neidig said it has been “really neat to serve this town.”

Originally published by Lancaster New Era Staff.

(c) 2008 Intelligencer Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.