Whitehall City Council President Thomas Potter has announced that he will resign from his position because he is relocating to Columbus.
The announcement from Potter came during City Council’s special committee meeting on July 14. Potter told The Dispatch after the meeting that he purchased a home in Columbus in September 2025, and that he would no longer be a qualified elector in the city of Whitehall.
Potter said he purchased a home in Columbus because he retired last year, and plans to spend the rest of the time traveling with his wife. He said the current home they have on Shady Lane in Whitehall requires too much upkeep, and he would not be able to travel as frequently as he plans to while upkeeping the property.
Potter said he and his wife purchased a condo in a community that better fits their retirement lifestyle. He said he would’ve preferred to stay in Whitehall, but the type of housing that they’re looking for to fit their lifestyle isn’t available in the city.
“I love [Whitehall]. I’ve been here 40 years, and we’ve had phenomenal memories,” Potter said.
Potter emphasized that his resignation had nothing to do with the recent failed recall effort that targeted the city’s mayor and two council members.
Potter has served on City Council dating back to 1994, when he represented the city’s Ward 3. He served three terms: from 1994 to 1995, 1998 to 2001, and 2003 to 2003. He began his current term as Council President in 2020.
Potter’s last day will be July 21. Council Pro Tem Larry Morrison will take the helm as President until remaining City Council members appoint a replacement, which must happen within 30 days, according to the Whitehall City Charter. Vacancies will be filled with a majority vote from the council members.
If the vacancy is not filled within 30 days, the mayor will have the responsibility to appoint a replacement for the unexpired term. Whoever is appointed will hold office for the unexpired term until a successor is elected.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Whitehall City Council president resigning, leaving the city
Reporting by Shahid Meighan, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Shahid Meighan, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
