Cleveland City Council member Rebecca Yardley made the surprise announcement Monday that she will resign her council seat at the end of the month.
Yardley, who represents Ward 2 in a news release, said the resignation will be effective August 31.
Yardley was elected to the council on June 9, 2020. The City held a Special Election to fill the vacant seat after the resignation of then Councilwoman Annie Sutton.
In a letter sent to Mayor Josh Turner and fellow council members, she said, “Unfortunately, like many in our community, when the home that my family has rented for eight years was sold, we were forced to look for housing elsewhere. As we have heard many times, housing needs continue to be an issue not only within the City of Cleveland but also within White County. Due to the lack of affordable housing for our working-class citizens, my family and I were forced to look outside of not only the City but also the County that I have called home for 23 years.”
She further stated, “Fortunately, we were able to find a home in neighboring Habersham County that will continue to allow me to work in the community that I love without a significant commute.”
READ Yardley’s resignation letter
Councilwoman Yardley stated the community has become inundated with individuals moving into White County from metro areas of the state or who purchase homes simply to place them as short-term rentals to make a profit.
“It has been an honor to serve Ward 2 and all the citizens of Cleveland as a member of this Council. I am grateful for the level of trust that the citizens placed in me when I was elected. I am also deeply grateful for the incredible staff that we have in the City of Cleveland and their dedication to making it the best place to live. Without their hard work and dedication, many of the city’s accomplishments would not have been possible during my term,” Yardley said.
The outgoing councilmember says her goal as a councilmember has always been “to make a difference in our community that would leave it positioned to serve the future generations of this City.” She says she intends to conitnue to meet that goal until she leaves office.
Yardley has served as chairperson of the White County Republican Party and 9th District GOP. She ran unsuccessfully for state party chair at the GOP convention in Columbus in June.
