Yuma Councilman Hieb resigns

After seven years of service, Yuma Deputy Mayor Ross Hieb has resigned effective July 2.

In a phone interview Monday afternoon from Iowa, Hieb said his resignation came after a family decision to move to that state, where they will reside on the family farm.

Hieb said his wife, an orthopedic surgeon, has accepted a position with a practice in Logan, Iowa.

"My wife's just ready to slow down a little it and so am I, so here we are. Unfortunately, it came up during this last year of my council term and the option was for me to commute back and forth or stay in Yuma while the family is out here.

"And those options just didn't seem very appealing."

After a career in the Marine Corps as a Marine Air Group commander at MCAS Yuma, Hieb has served as deputy mayor, a member of the Border Trade Alliance, as the city's representative on the Greater Yuma Port Authority and the city's representative on the Yuma Chamber of Commerce.

Hieb said with their house on the market, when it sells, he would no longer be a Yuma resident and therefore ineligible for the position.

In addition, Hieb said their son will attend college next year in Nebraska, and the move will allow them to live closer to him.

He said it is an honor and a privilege to get elected by the citizens of Yuma and to serve them. "I feel like I provided a good service, and I enjoyed it."

He said he'd like to thank the people in Yuma and "keep up the good work."

"I think Yuma has a lot of great opportunity ahead of it, and I hope it keeps moving along the same path."

According to a news release from the city, the city is required by charter to fill his seat through a majority vote of the sitting city council members within 30 days of the resignation, in this case by July 31.

Those interested in sitting on the council from July through the end of this year should drop off a letter of interest and a resume at the office of the mayor and city council at City Hall, located at One City Plaza.

Hieb will discuss his pending departure and reflects on his time on the city council during this week's episode of " City Outlook," which will be televised at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily on City 73 TV for Time Warner Cable subscribers. Nonsubscribers may watch streaming video online at www.yumaaz.gov/tv.

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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.