Dear Community,
Serving as your Mayor over the past 14 years has been one of the greatest joys of my life. My first day as an elected official with the City of Bexley was on a cold January day in 2008, and after nearly nineteen years of service, this season of adventure rooted in community is coming to a close.
Tonight I am announcing my intent to resign my position as Mayor of the City of Bexley, with a likely effective date of September 30, in coordination with the Council process outlined in the article below.
Earlier this week, I accepted a position with the Columbus Partnership, where I will serve as Executive Director of the Regional Housing Coalition. There will be time in the weeks to come to talk more about this new role and its importance to the vitality of our region. But in this moment, I’m focused on ensuring a solid transition that maintains continuity of top-notch service to our residents and honors the talented team we have at every level of our city government.
Together, we’ve accomplished so much. We’ve built parks and expanded green space; energized Main Street; expanded Jeffrey Mansion; diversified housing options for our residents; invested in vital water and sewer infrastructure; and brought music, art, and vibrancy to a whole slate of community events, activities, and spaces. We’ve expanded the services we provide to residents of all ages, and we’ve done our part as leaders in protecting our environment and natural resources. We’ve accomplished all of this while bringing financial stability to our coffers, paying down debt, leveraging tens of millions of dollars in grant funding, and keeping taxes stable for many years.
Time after time, we’ve been a community that leads, innovates, and reimagines. I’m incredibly proud of the work I’ve been blessed to do alongside you, and I will forever be steeped in gratitude for these amazing years.
This is not a decision I arrived at lightly, or without a tremendous amount of thought and counsel. It’s a bittersweet moment. And I wouldn’t be moving forward unless I knew in my core that the firm foundation we’ve built together has Bexley well positioned for its next chapter.
Under our City Charter, Council will undertake the process of selecting a successor to serve until the next applicable municipal election (more on that process in the article below). There is still so much more to do – projects underway, new ideas to pursue, innovation to come – and we are fortunate to have seven thoughtful elected members of Council who care deeply about this community. I have every confidence that they will approach this responsibility with the care and seriousness it deserves.
One more thing: I’m not going anywhere, Bexley.
I have loved this job that is more than a job, in a community that has been extraordinarily supportive of me. I’ll be working hard to keep the trains running through this transition, and when that transition has occurred, I’ll still be your neighbor and an active member of this community that we all love. My roots are firmly planted here, and I’ll stay involved and helpful to the extent that I’m able – whether that means helping fill in gaps in institutional knowledge, supporting the next generation of Bexley leadership, or, of course, pitching in on the cookout crew.
My heart is full of gratitude for this extraordinary gift: the opportunity to serve this community over all these years, and the support and trust you’ve given me along the way.
Thank you, Bexley.
In gratitude,
Mayor Ben
PROCESS ANNOUNCEMENT FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAAD
Letters of Interest Due by September 18
Under the Bexley City Charter, City Council is responsible for electing a successor to fill a vacancy in the office of Mayor until the next regular municipal election. With Mayor Kessler’s announcement of his intent to resign, City Council will undertake a process to select Mayor Kessler’s successor. As your Council President, I believe this is one of the most important decisions City Council will make for Bexley. As a Council, we are fully committed to making this decision through a well considered process, one that centers what is best for Bexley as our foremost priority.
Any elector of the City of Bexley who believes they possess the background, experience, and skills necessary to serve as Mayor is invited to submit a letter of interest and résumé to applications@bexley.org by September 18, 2026.
Following the application deadline, City Council will review all submissions at the regularly scheduled September 22 meeting and will determine whether any additional steps in the selection process are appropriate. At the special meeting on September 30, 2026, Council anticipates voting to elect the next Mayor immediately after the resignation of Mayor Kessler.
Questions regarding the application or appointment process may be directed to me at jsaad@bexley.org.
In Community,
Council President Jess Saad
