After a lifetime in Lawrence County, a decade on the Ironton City Council, and six years with the Lawrence County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Jesse Roberts is moving on.

The MRDD workshop director will become the adult services director of the Union County Board of MRDD at the end of November, and he'll be resigning in the middle of his four-year council term at the end of this month.

&#8220I was very happy where I was, but a friend of mine told me about this position in upstate Ohio, it was a move up, an opportunity, and it evolved into a position being offered to me,” Roberts said. &#8220It's not that I'm unhappy here, it's just that chance to do something that I want to do, and move up while doing it.”

Although he'll be two hours away, Roberts said he didn't think maintaining contact with family and friends would be a problem. In fact, he said he thinks he'll miss his work at the Lawrence County MRDD.

&#8220Leaving (them) is probably the toughest thing,” Roberts said. &#8220It's been a great six years, and leaving people that you learn to love and have a feeling for, that's probably the worst thing about leaving. Of course, the exciting thing is that I'll make new friends in Union County.”

Besides a community member and MRDD staffer, Roberts is also a 10-year member of the Ironton City Council. He'll end his service to the city at the end of this month, but said that, even if the move had not occurred, he hadn't planned to seek reelection.

&#8220My run's over. I don't mean that negatively, but this is my third term, and I wouldn't advise that for anybody,” Roberts joked. &#8220It takes a lot out of you. The first term is exciting, the second four years are still exciting but it's getting older, and by the third term gets there, you've dedicated as many years as you need to to it.

&#8220If I were not leaving, I would have served my two years and probably been done. I can't say that I'll be sorry to leave it, but I can't say that I won't miss it.”

Roberts' seat will be filled by the Ironton City Council, who will nominate someone at their discretion. It was unclear whether or not the seat would be filled before the November 8 election.

Even though he may no longer fill his council seat, Roberts said he still wishes the best for the city he worked to improve for 10 years.

&#8220Obviously I want to see it prosper, I want to see it do well,” Roberts said. &#8220I didn't commit ten years of my time and my family's time for the money. I did it because I believed in the Ironton community Š and I still do.”