Bluffton Mayor Ted Ellis has run the small Wells County city for more than 20 years. But there will be a change in administration in 2020.
Since 1995, Bluffton Mayor Ted Ellis has served as mayor of the city of just under 10,000 residents. Since that first election, no one has sought to unseat him.
And he has enjoyed the work.
“I thought I’d give it four years and see if it was as much fun as I think it will be," Ellis said. "And it’s certainly turned out to be.”
On Monday, Ellis announced he would not be seeking a seventh term in office, citing a Parkinson’s diagnosis about six years ago.
While he said the disease is progressing slowly, Ellis said he will step aside at the end of his sixth term.
A democrat in a county of republicans, he sees the city’s government coming together for the good of the community. They worked together to recover from floods, fires and other disasters over the years.
“And those are the times you really feel like you are called to leadership, and can do some positve things for the community. The flood was an example of good government at its best.”
Over the course of his more than two decades of service at the city's helm, Ellis has served on the board of directors for the Association of Indiana Cities and Towns, been awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash, along with a number of other honors.
Long-time City Councilman John Phillabaum praised Ellis' leadership Monday.
"Mayor Ellis has been the right man to be the leader of the Bluffton City Government for nearly the last quarter century. He has been a good manager of the City's money and will leave the City in excellent financial shape," Phillabaum said in a written statement. "Mayor Ellis has not only been a leader of the City of Bluffton, but he has also been a leader of the state, national and international associations of cities He is currently serving on the board of directors of World Council of Cities."
The decision not to seek a seventh term gives Ellis more time with his nine grandchildren.
“I want to also sit down and spend a couple years documenting these last 24 and just put something together for the grandkids, and anyone else who wants to take a look at it, document where we started and where we came from,” Ellis said.
Ellis says that will also be excellent therapy.
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