By Heather Bell
RADFORD – Radford City Council Member Forrest Hite announced Thursday he will be resigning from the Council in July and is moving to Alabama to be closer to family.
According to City of Radford Director of Communications Jenni Wilder, Hite will submit his formal letter of resignation in early July. He will have served two years of his four year term at the time of his resignation.
Hite stated in an announcement on Facebook that he and his family plan to move to Huntsville, Alabama to be closer to family. He and his wife, Tatiana, are expecting their first child.
“It has absolutely been an honor and a privilege to serve the City on Council for the last two years,” said Hite. “The uniqueness of our time certainly presented no small number of challenges. But I have endeavored to serve to the best of my abilities, and I hope that I have served honorably. During my tenure on Council, a few of the things of which I’m most proud would include our emphasis and focus on economic development and making Radford an attractive, tenable location for businesses to come and to stay; our attempts to navigate the early days of the pandemic in an intentional, even-handed, and reasonable way; and my service on the Board of Directors of the NRVCS, who do such important work for our community.”
Radford Mayor David Horton expressed appreciation for Hite’s service to the city.
“We are thankful for Mr. Hite’s service and wish him, his wife, and their growing family well on their new journey together,” said Horton. “We appreciate his willingness to serve the Citizens of Radford over the past two years.”
Hite said he is grateful to have called Radford home for more than a decade.
“I still love Radford and her people and hope for nothing but the best for the River City’s future,” he said. “I am tremendously grateful for the 12 years that I’ve called Radford home, and Tatiana and I are both thankful for the kindness and support we’ve been shown especially in the last three-plus years from so many of you in Radford and throughout the 12th District.”
Hite said he will be in attendance at the June Radford City Council meeting and hopes “to be at the July meeting as well, though that’s still to be determined.”
“I’m making every effort to do this in the best way possible, working with Council and staff to make the transition as smooth as it can be for all involved,” he said.
The remaining members of Council will appoint a temporary replacement to serve until November’s election within 30 days of Hite’s resignation. A permanent replacement will be elected to fill out the remaining two years of his term on Election Day.