Highland Heights Council President Says Farewell

Outgoing Council President has moved on from the fall election and wants others in the city do the same. Mills said he doesn't dwell on his losing bid against Mayor Scott Coleman.

"I'm over it and I hope everyone else, whether they supported me or not, is as well," he said. "Who cares? Let's move on."

Mills, manager of a PNC bank branch, is a licensed insurance agent and plans to start a Farmers Insurance agency in 2012.

"I've always been an entrepreneur. Most of my life I had a vehicle and equipment leasing company," he said. "The good Lord gave me good common sense and a good sense of direction."

He gave up his council seat to run for mayor and is disappointed he will not be able to continue to work for installation of a water main on Highland Road and a revamping of Miner Road.

"My biggest regret is that council may not have a voice against the gas wells in the park," Mills said. "They're going to put two wells in there."

Among his accomplishments, he considers the playground and parking lot improvements at the city park, repaving of Wilson Mills Road and paper shredding days at the top of the list.

"I've enjoyed working with all of the council people I've worked with. They were always civil and honest with each other," Mills said. "I also had a good relationship with the city department heads."

Mills also is proud of the way he ran council meetings as president for the last four years.

"No one can ever say those meetings didn't run like clockwork. I think I'll miss the most running an efficient meeting," he said.

Although he will no longer be on council, Mills said he'll still be active with the St. Paschal Baylon Spring Fling and will have a softball team playing in the city park.

"I'm going to be involved, that's not going to change. That's who I am," he said.

As for his political future, Mills said he'll definitely take a year off before even thinking about running again.

"I have 18 months before I even had to think about it," he said.

Mills added that he wanted to thank residents for electing him to four terms on council.

"I thank the residents for giving me the privilege to serve them. I always did what was right for the community as a whole, not my personal interests," he said. "I'm proud of what I've done. I've done something 99 percent of the people in Highland Heights haven't done."