FILE PHOTO David Lenart.
But he’s not walking away from public service.
Lenart, currently the chief of the volunteer Storm Ambulance and Rescue Corps, will be named an assistant chief of the Derby Fire Department in January.
He could remain an Alderman, but Lenart indicated he would be wearing too many hats in Derby.
“I just want to concentrate on my duties as an assistant fire chief,” he said.
Lenart is one of two Republicans on the Board of Aldermen. In the past, when a member of the board resigned, the person’s fellow party members would hold a quick caucus to pick a replacement.
But with Lenart’s departure, there is only one Republican left — Peter Olenoski.
According to a statement from Derby Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo, Olenoski will have to appoint Lenart’s replacement with a registered Republican from Derby’s second ward, which Lenart represented.
Joseph DiMartino, a Republican who previously served on the Board of Aldermen from the second ward, is expected to be Lenart’s replacement.
“I couldn’t think of a better man for the job than Joe,” Lenart said.
The appointment is expected to happen at a Dec. 18 Aldermen’s meeting.
The mayor and all the members of the Board of Aldermen are up for re-election in November 2015.
Lenart is also leaving his post as chief at Storm Ambulance.
“Again, none of these resignations are mandatory, but the chief of the ambulance corps is a full-time position staffed by a volunteer,” Lenart said.
The leadership of that organization has been in his family for three generations.
Lenart is the grandson of Storm Ambulance founder, the late Ed Cotter, Jr.
Louis Oliwa will be taking over as Storm chief.
Lenart is a full-time firefighter in Bridgeport.
He previously served as an Alderman from 2007 to 2011.
He was re-elected in 2013 — but most of his running mates lost to city Democrats.
Work commitments caused him to miss several meetings since he was elected in 2013.
