Published: March 24, 2008 11:36 pm      

Gilmore will step down as mayor in July

Will take over as Ashland Schools superintendent

ASHLAND — Steve Gilmore will give up his mayoral post when he takes over as superintendent of Ashland schools.

His job as superintendent takes effect July 1, so his resignation as mayor of Ashland will take effect then.

Gilmore, whose term ends this year, also is withdrawing from the primary election race for mayor.

However, ballots already have been printed and delivered, so his name will appear, Boyd County Clerk Debbie Jones said.

Jones will have posters printed for each precinct notifying voters that votes cast for Gilmore won’t be counted, she said.

When Gilmore steps down, Mayor Pro tem Kevin Gunderson will become presiding commissioner, effectively making him acting mayor.

The city commission then will appoint someone to fill the vacant commission seat for the remainder of the term, which also ends this year.

“Being mayor has been a passion for me,” Gilmore said. “I’ve enjoyed every day.

“The most anxious moments of my life have been in the last two or three months ... I’ve had many sleepless nights.”

Gilmore’s hiring by the school district comes almost on the eve of one of his most anticipated projects: breaking ground on Ashland’s multi-million-dollar riverfront project.

That happens Thursday. Before he makes the formal switch, Gilmore hopes to see the library commons project completed, the groundbreaking of the park at Judd Plaza, and the unveiling of several as-yet unannounced projects, he said.

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.