In an email addressed to Mike Sexton, Chair of Franklin County Democratic Party Executive Committee, Columbus City Attorney Rick Pfeiffer formally announced last night that he will not be seeking relection for that office.
“It is time for me to end my public career and begin preparing to be a private citizen,” he stated in the email.
Pfeiffer has served in the role of City Attorney since 2003, and has already named his preferred successor:
I know persons in our Party who would want to be the candidate to take my place, and, if endorsed by the Party, would acquit themselves well to their credit and to the credit of our Party. Having said that, it would be my opinion that should Columbus City Council President Zach Klein choose to seek the office, I would ask the executive committee to look favorably on his candidacy. Whether it has been his leadership of the Public Safety and Judiciary Committee of the City Council or his present leadership as Council President, Mr. Klein has demonstrated he understand what municipal government is all about. I and my office have worked with him on many issues, and in all cases he has displayed sound reasoning… he listens and builds coalitions to get what is possible in the formation of good public policy. His experience with municipal issues and with the workings of the office of City Attorney well qualifies him to lead the office of Columbus City Attorney.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther commended Pfeiffer on his years of service.
“Rick set a new standard for public service as city attorney,” stated Ginther. “He led the charge to close down crime-ridden hotels and hold vacant landlords accountable — and actively engaged Columbus residents in the process. Under his leadership, an attorney was assigned to each city zone to work as a liaison with Columbus Police Division, Columbus Public Health, Code Enforcement and area commissions. Rick’s work on legislation was vast, including the fast track foreclosure bill which led the effort in foreclosing blighted properties to help revitalize neighborhoods.”
For more information, visit www.columbuscityattorney.org.