Mayor Herb Roche delivers farewell speech, cites family safety and 8 years in office

Mayor Herb Roche used his final full council meeting to review accomplishments from his eight years in office, to thank staff and volunteers, and to say he will not run for another term.

Roche recounted a list of achievements he attributed to the council and staff: more than a billion dollars in new development investment, lower city debt and higher reserves, a multi‑year capital plan, expanded downtown events and community gatherings, and a lower city tax rate. He framed those items as accomplishments of council and staff working together.

Roche told the council he decided not to run again after incidents of harassment that reached his family. “Negative remarks and harassment to my grandchildren, I will not put them in that position again,” Roche said, explaining that one of his granddaughters was harassed at school and came home crying. He said that experience shaped his decision not to seek reelection so he could protect his family.

Roche also thanked his family, council colleagues and staff by name during the remarks and listed several community partnerships and volunteer organizations he said had been important during his tenure.

He closed with a message encouraging community engagement and volunteers, and he offered best wishes to incoming mayor Eric Van Hook, saying, “I wish nothing but continued success to our new mayor Eric Van Hook.”

The council presented plaques to outgoing council members and recognized retiring aldermen earlier in the meeting; Roche and other members also noted birthdays and departmental thanks in their remarks.

The remarks were personal and retrospective; Roche framed the choice not to run again primarily as a family decision rather than a reaction to city policy disputes.