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player ready...Valparaiso City Councilman Peter Anderson, R-5th, announced his resignation from the city council on Facebook Tuesday, citing the need to focus on his personal and professional responsibilities.
“When I commit to something, I want to give it everything I have,” he wrote in the lengthy social media post.
“After careful consideration, I have concluded that I can no longer give this office the time and energy it deserves while also meeting my personal and professional responsibilities. Rather than remain in the position when I cannot serve at the standard I expect of myself, I believe the responsible decision is to step aside and allow someone else to give it their full attention.”
Anderson’s resignation will be effective Sept. 1. He is in his second term in office that would have concluded at the end of 2027.
Nate Uldricks, chair of the Porter County Republicans, was understanding of Anderson’s decision.
“He’s a business owner in a very challenging industry, the restaurant industry,” he said of Anderson, who owns multiple Gelsosomo’s Pizzerias. “He’s been a great member of the city council,” he added, saying Anderson is “knowledgeable, asks good questions” and is forward-thinking on things like e-bikes.
“He’s a person that’s very forthright and authentic,” Mayor Jon Costas said about Anderson. “I guess I have a strong connection to Peter because I’m the one who called him years ago and encouraged him to be a candidate.”
Costas cited projects such as the sidewalk that connects the Audubon residences to the pathway system as an example of the attention Anderson paid to the needs of his constituents, making traffic safer for pedestrians, including one resident with autism who wanted to be able to walk to his job at Opportunity Enterprises.
“That’s the sort of thing that a district council person should do, is make us aware of needs we might not be aware of, and that’s what Peter did so well and why he’ll be missed so much.”
Uldricks said precinct committeemen from the Fifth District, which is less than 10 people, will caucus to replace Anderson by the end of the month. An eligible candidate must live in the Fifth District.
Uldricks said the group will be looking for someone “to push the mayor’s agenda forward and financial oversight of the city.”
“Our council has been through some extremely rocky times,” Anderson wrote in his announcement, acknowledging divides on the council, which is currently predominantly Democratic, while Anderson and Councilman Jack Pupillo, R-4th, are the only Republicans.
“We have disagreed, struggled, and faced difficult moments together. But those experiences created a bond and a shared experience to which I will always be fiercely loyal. Whatever disagreements we may have had, these are my colleagues and it has been an honor to serve alongside them.”
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.