Marilyn Trent appointed to City Council after Harrison resigns

ROCHESTER — Rochester City Councilwoman Amanda Harrison has resigned from her position.

Harrison — who announced her resignation in a July 11 email — is moving from Michigan to Colorado for a job opportunity.

“It’s been an honor to serve the City Council for the past 2.5, almost three years,” Harrison said during her last council meeting July 25. “I have taken a new position as a community engagement manager for the city of Wheat Ridge, Colorado — just outside of Denver — so this is an excellent career opportunity for me. It’s bittersweet that I submit my resignation.”

During Harrison’s term, she served on the budgeting committee, which she said worked to preserve the city’s AAA bond rating, oversaw a budget surplus, and enjoyed unanimous approval on the 2022 and 2020 proposed budgets. She also oversaw two mural projects within the city, helped promote native plant gardens on the City Beautiful Commission and oversaw the development of the new Department of Public Works campus. Harrison also served on the Downtown Development Authority, the Sister City Committee and Rochester Area Youth Assistance, and she announced the annual Hometown Christmas Parade.

During Harrison’s last council meeting, council unanimously voted to accept the resignation and shared some words on her service to the community.

Council member Nancy Salvia said Harrison is “very thoughtful, insightful and an excellent communicator.”

“Wherever the journey of life takes you … I know that Rochseter is still going to have a big place in your heart,” she said.

Mayor Stuart Bikson said he always likes to thank people who take the time to run for office because “it’s difficult, it’s time-consuming and it’s not always a lot of fun.”

“I appreciate you being very willing to work with other people and being able to disagree without being disagreeable. We wish you very well,” he said.

Harrison was elected to the board in November 2019 for a four-year term ending 2023. Her departure means that a replacement, who would need to be appointed by council within 60 days of the vacancy, would serve a little over a year.  

Five residents submitted their names for consideration by the July 25 deadline — Debbie Allen, Christian Hauser, Richard Kendziuk, Marilyn Trent and Terry Tesh.

“It takes a lot of courage to step forward, and I just want to thank everyone for doing that,” said Salvia.

Trent — who has been a resident of the city for 32 years, a business owner in the city since 1992 with Trent Creative, and founded Rochester Pollinators — was appointed to the position by majority vote during the Aug. 8 council meeting.

Trent said she brings knowledge of the community to the position.

“My vast experience knowing this community and the tapestry of the interconnectedness from economic development to the local nonprofit organizations to the city government, its employees, the City Council, and its boards and commissions, and how they all work together to make this a great community, means there won’t be as much onboarding for me,” she said.

As a business owner, Trent said, she also knows the importance of running in the black, with no debt, and said she is a good collaborator.

“I know I am a good replacement to step into Councilwoman Amanda Harrison’s shoes. I know they are big shoes, albeit stylish ones,” she said.