London City Council member resigns, the fourth departure in two turbulent years
Another London City Council member has resigned.
Anthony Ortega tendered his resignation Wednesday, effective immediately, according to a letter reviewed by the Herald-Leader. Ortega said he and his growing family have relocated to a new home outside city limits.
“It is my duty, as it is the duty of every elected official, to follow the law and hold myself to the same standards we should expect of all elected officials,” Ortega wrote. “To do otherwise would be irresponsible and unethical.”
Ortega is the fourth member of the London City Council to resign in the last two years. The council has been racked with controversy as members battle publicly with Mayor Randall Weddle’s administration over the city’s response to the high-profile police shooting of Doug Harless and ongoing budget constraints.
Elected in November 2024, Ortega voted against two impeachment charges the council brought against Weddle in September and has been notably absent from several council meetings since.
Ortega works full-time as a network technician in London. He did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.
“Serving the citizens of London has been a genuinely rewarding experience,” he wrote Wednesday. “I am forever grateful to the voters of London who provided me the opportunity to serve on the London City Council and the supportive colleagues I have had the pleasure of working alongside. It was an honour to serve my community.”
City council vacancies are filled by a simple majority vote by members of the council themselves, according to the Kentucky League of Cities.
