During the Nov. 4 meeting of Lowell City Council, Councilmember Leah Groves announced that she would be resigning her seat in 30 days. Below is a letter she provided to Lowell’s First Look regarding her decision.
To the City of Lowell
I am not one to withhold my intentions in hopes you read all my thoughts. Yesterday evening, Monday, November 4th 2024 I announced a 30 day notice of resignation from my seat on city council. I have struggled with how to accurately describe my experience serving the city of Lowell and how to appropriately thank and express enough thanks to so many. Below is my attempt to do so.
On a whim I decided I was worth having a say in the community I want my children to call home. This community where we all rise, work, run errands, support our schools, cheer on our sports teams, and unite together in times of hardship. This community where neighbors are family, and where you become best friends with fellow parents in your child’s class. The community I have had the remarkable experience of being a mom, a coach, an advocate, a Lowell schools staff member, and a YMCA childcare provider at Cherry Creek elementary school. The community I got to find my footing and become the mother I always dreamt I would be. Courageous, busy, powerful, kind and gentle.
What’s this have to do with my time in this seat? Well, I’ve mothered this chair. I’ve wept in this chair for the babies in our community. I’ve raised my voice in this chair when I’ve had enough. I’ve apologized in this chair when I’ve been wrong. I’ve held space for those overlooked. I’ve validated concerns. I’ve ignored those looking to ruffle feathers. I’ve calmed hearts. I’ve provided structure and expectations. I’ve taken criticism and corrected what I needed to. This chair needed some mothering. Mothers aren’t always liked. They’re not your best friend. But, they hold space even if they disagree with you. I am proud of the way I stepped into this role. With open arms, I was welcomed, encouraged and supported. This never wavered during my time.
Recently, in discussion as a team I was asked what the biggest thing I’ve learned is. I joked that showboats are expensive, that the opinions of others are louder than I imagined. But, what I didn’t say and will say right now is that serving alongside the Mayor Mike Devore, former councilman Cliff Yankovich, Current councilmen Marty Chambers, Jim Salzwedel, Eric Bartkus, our city Manager Mike Burns and our delightful City clerk Sue Ullery has been a mile stone in my life that I never saw for myself and I thank my lucky stars I got to experience. Included in this thanks is all city staff and department heads, along with the boards in which help them execute and operate at the high level they do. Each of these people have shaped my experience on city council into one I’ll never forget.
Furthermore I’d like to express my sincerest gratitude to the voters, the citizens who trusted me to lead, to carry their concerns and care for them with respect and upmost responsibility.
But, most of all, I’d like to thank my children, Lleyton and Beck. For seeing me through this growth, for watching me struggle, stretch and expand my thinking in order to serve the way I wished to. For allowing me Monday nights, weekends/ evenings of prep and discussion, being stopped in stores and giving me patience to engage with citizens, for attending most park and rec meetings with me, for seeing me through this season, for expressing their pride in me. Everything I have ever done as a mother was to better their world, I am proud that city council helped me maintain that.
So, why give it up if I love it so much? Because sometimes life blesses you two fold or in my case, three fold. In the past year and a half my life has shifted in ways I never thought possible. With a steady and strong family foundation, a new career path and a degree on the horizon, life will force you into changes whether you’re ready or not. I am ready, I just have to make space for blessings that were once a figment of my imagination.
I am proud to have cultivated the life I live for myself and my boys, serving the city of Lowell was a guiding post for me to do that. I am indebted to the city for its commitment, dedication and progression it has accepted while I’ve served. I hope the city continues to move forward with perseverance, humility and love for the best tomorrows. My hope is that whoever fulfills this position does so with grit for the hard days, zest for the long days, grace for the slow days, joy for the exciting days and compassion for everyday.
My heart is still in Lowell but now, I’ll be serving in different ways.
Love & Light,
Lleyton and Beck’s Mom
Leah Groves
….“for allowing me Monday nights, weekends/ evenings“….
Interesting… I heard her sons are with their very-involved father, step-mother, and brother and sister EVERY Sunday, Monday, and every other weekend.
Good luck in your future endeavors!
Thank you so much for the time you’ve spent on the City Council. Your “mothering”, as you put it, will be greatly missed. I watch every meeting and your voice is one that I love to hear. I’ve almost stopped you at Meijer a couple times to thank you for being there. Thank you for all you’ve done.