| By Big Radio News Staff |

The city of Milton will mark the end of an era this spring.

Mayor Anissa Welch is not running for reelection this year. Voters picked her to be mayor in 2015 after she served two terms on the city council. She’s the first woman elected to Milton’s top office.

She says the city modernized its governmental organization during her tenure and that she and former City Administrator Al Hulick worked together to stimulate economic development. Hulick was hired in Welch’s first years as mayor to focus on the economy.

Welch says their work to attract Clasen Quality Chocolates to the city’s east side through the COVID-19 pandemic laid the groundwork for future commercial and industrial development.

The city also has several active residential subdivisions and other housing construction in the pipeline.

She’s ending her tenure as mayor because she believes in term limits and thinks voters should have a chance to elect someone new. She’s also excited to spend time with her family after a decade of putting the community first as mayor.