Buettner won’t seek third president term

Jeffrey Buettner

WINCHESTER — After four years as City Council’s president, Jeffrey Buettner is stepping down from the leadership role.

At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, Buettner announced that he will not serve another two-year term as president. The councilors are slated to elect new officers at their Jan. 8 meeting.

“I’ve served as president for four years,” he said after the meeting, “and the position has taken a tremendous amount of time and energy. I’ve felt personally that my energy is starting to wane.

“If we want to continue moving forward as a city, I think it’s important that a change be made.”

Buettner was elected president by fellow councilors in January 2009 and re-elected two years later. He’s been on the council for more than 14 years.

City Code lists presiding over council meetings as the president’s only extra duty. However, presidents often take primary roles in planning sessions or negotiations affecting Winchester.

“I also think chairs should shift,” he said. “We need to always be looking at things with fresh eyes and vision.”

Buettner noted that six council members just recommitted to serve the city by being elected in November. His term representing the First Ward ends Dec. 31, 2014, and he said he hasn’t made a firm decision about running again.

He became president after Charles T. Gaynor opted to leave the body, and Buettner said that at times early in his tenure he wished Gaynor were around to provide guidance. By leaving with two years left in his term, he’ll be available to assist the new president.

“Two years is a long time,” Buettner said, “and I would evaluate where I am a year from now and make a final decision. However, I always felt going into this term that it would be my last term.

“Looking at it from that perspective, I’m in the nadir of my service from this point. In leaving my role as president, I’m trying to be proactive as I transition out.”

In his remarks to the councilors, Buettner said he thinks Winchester has had “a great four years” and has established a foundation upon which to build.

“As we move forward,” he said, “I think we’ll see that we’ve really just scratched the surface.”

— Contact Vic Bradshaw at vbradshaw@winchesterstar.com