RIPLEY, W.Va. –Ripley Mayor Carolyn Rader presided over her final City Council meeting Tuesday as the city prepares for new leadership after 19 years in office.
Rader was first elected mayor in 2007 and served four consecutive terms. She ran unopposed in 2022. In this year’s primary election, Rader chose not to seek reelection.
Richard H. Gobble II was elected mayor in the primary election, defeating Steve Donohew, Vince Riff and Dwayne Pugh in the nonpartisan race.
Rader told WMOV Radio on Tuesday that stepping down is bittersweet but said she has had an amazing staff over the years.
“I’ve had wonderful people to work with, I’ve had excellent council people, I’ve had excellent committee members, who were always there that will say we’ll do whatever you all want, whatever mayor you tell us to do, we’ll help you do it,” she said. “So, it’s defiantly not an “I” office, it’s a “we” office, and we all have to work together to make this city come together.”
Before being elected mayor, Rader worked as a first-grade teacher at Ripley Elementary School and later served as principal of Fairplain Elementary School.
Rader said the city made significant progress during her tenure, including the construction of a new sewer system.
“We knew we had to have a new sewer system, as costly as it was, it really was a blessing because it has opened up the infrastructure for the city of Ripley, we built it in mind, so we could we provide growth for Jackson County and especially for Ripley in this area,” Rader said.
She said her administration continued to build on accomplishments from previous administrations which included the construction of a new water treatment plant.
Rader said she ran for mayor because she was raised in Ripley and wanted to give back to the community that supported her and her family when she was a child.
“It has been a godsend for me as a child here, and without the people in Ripley when I was a little girl, and our family really needed help, they were always here, and it was my way to say thank you to them, thank you to the city of Ripley for what you did for our family,” she said.
Although she is leaving office, Rader said she plans to remain active in the community and may continue to be involved in local government.
“I want to substitute teach so I can be with children again, and then I would love to teach at Marshall University, my Alma Mater, and I’d like to get into government,” she said.
Rader’s term ends July 1.