Thomas MacMillan Photo
Soon-to-be-ex-Alderman Rodriguez.
After over three and a half years as a Fair Haven alderman, Joey Rodriguez offered an abrupt farewell.
At Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen, he announced that meeting would be his last.
Rodriguez had already decided not to run for a third term, citing an increasingly busy schedule in his new job as statewide outreach coordinator for U.S. Sen. Dick Blumenthal.
Rodriguez said he chose to resign after seeing that only one candidate is running to replace him in Fair Haven’s Ward 15. That candidate, Ernie G. Santiago, was endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee in July.
His departure leaves Mayor John DeStefano to pick a temporary successor to fill the remaining four months of the term. DeStefano will pick from a list of names offered by the Democratic ward committee in Ward 15. Santiago is the expected pick since no one else is running.
Rodriguez said he hopes for a “smooth transition” to his successor, with cooperation between the ward committee and the mayor.
In brief comments to his colleagues Tuesday evening, Rodriguez said he wants to spend more time with his family, including a new daughter. “I refuse to not be there in the months when my daughter learns to walk.”
“Bravo!” erupted West River Alderman Yusuf Shah, leading a round of applause.
“I respect each one of you for your service,” Rodriguez said.
Beaver Hills Alderman Carl Goldfield, president of the board, presented Rodriguez with an official citation for his service at the end of the meeting.
Rodriguez hugs Alderwoman Andrea Jackson-Brooks.
:( Good luck! I know we will see around!