Newark Mayor Stu Markham announced he will resign from office effective Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
He was sworn in as mayor in April 2022, and previously served as the councilperson for District 6 from 2006 until 2020.
According to a Newark Post story, Markham cited stress as the reason for stepping down.
“You’re on call 24/7. Everything you do is exhausting. I’m stressed out. I’m not sleeping, I’m not eating. My body’s telling me there’s something wrong,” he told the newspaper. “I’m making mental mistakes, and I don’t think you can do that as mayor. It’s time to pack it up and try something different.”
Over the course of his career in public service, Mayor Markham advocated for sustainability and responsible development. According to a release from the city, he created relationships with large local businesses to invest in Newark and contribute to its economic development.
Accomplishments during his tenure include the conversion of a 3.91-acre brownfield into McKee’s Solar Park, improving communication with the University of Delaware, modifying the downtown zoning to restrict building height, implementing a Transportation Improvement District, replacing the Unicity bus service with DART Connect Newark, changing the downtown parking requirements for new development and expanding the police force.
Markham earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Delaware and a masters of engineering science – computer science from Loyola University. He was worked in the information technology industry in the state.
A special election has been scheduled for early January 2024. Deputy Mayor Travis McDermott will preside over City Council meetings until a new mayor is elected.
Newark operates with a mayor, city manager form of government.
