Urbana Alderman Gehrig to Step Down

Urbana Alderman David Gehrig is resigning, effective after next Monday's City Council meeting.

A research programmer at the University of Illinois' National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Gehrig would only say he is stepping down due to additional work responsibilities.

"Rather than coming in and doing an 80-percent job or a 50-percent job," Gehrig said. "I think it makes more sense for me to step aside and have someone else come in who can do it do that degree.

Gehrig said he came to the decision about a month ago. The Ward 2 Democrat said he will have more say after next Monday's meeting. Gehrig was elected to a 4-year term in April 2009, but has served since August of 2008, when he was nominated to fill the remainder of another term. He said hopes to see a replacement named as soon as possible, but did not offer any suggestions.

Council members applauded Gehrig following his announcement in Monday night's Committee of the Whole meeting.

(Photo by Jeff Bossert/WILL)