Quick summary
Jason Guilliams has been a member of Bellville village council since 2017. He is stepping down at the end of the year to take a job opportunity out-of-state. Council will appoint a successor to fill the remainder of Guilliams' term, which expires December 31, 2025.
BELLVILLE — The longest-serving member of Bellville’s current village council is stepping down.
Guilliams submitted a letter to Bellville officials last week, stating he intends to resign effective Dec. 31. He told his colleagues he’s stepping down to take a career opportunity out-of-state.
“It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve our special community as Councilman,” Guilliams wrote. “Bellville will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Guilliams also said he will remain “fully committed” to his responsibilities on council through the end of the year.
Bellville village council president Justin Enix said council is grateful to Guilliams for his years of service.
“Jason leaves behind a legacy of devoted leadership as well as fiscal accountability and transparency,” Enix said. “He has been an advocate for the village on both the county and state level.
“While his departure is a loss for the council, we are excited for him as he embarks on this new professional opportunity, and we wish him and his family continued success.”
Guilliams advice for successor: “Be curious, not critical”
Guilliams was appointed to Bellville Village Council in February 2017. He successfully ran to retain the seat the following November and was re-elected in 2022. He currently chairs council’s Finance & HR committee.
Guilliams said he’s going to miss working with his fellow council members and village staff.
“It comes down to that collaboration with my peers on council and the employees and that shared desire of helping Bellville to continue carrying forward its rich heritage,” he said.
Guilliams said he’s proud to have helped develop a structure leading to “financial discipline” for the village, as well as empowering village departments to provide the most value to residents.
“My hope for Bellville would be that it would continue down a path of appropriate development and growth, while maintaining the small town charm that we all love,” he said.
In addition to serving on village council, Guilliams is a prior member of the Mansfield Christian School board. He currently serves on the board of elders at Crossroads Church and the Richland County Foundation.
Guilliams said his advice to his successor is to be “curious, not critical.”
“Our village is well-positioned for the future with an outstanding group of leaders elected to Council who deeply care about fiscal responsibility, responsible community improvement and development, and strong commitment to preserving our heritage,” Guilliams wrote in his letter.
Mayor Teri Brenkus called Guilliams’ resignation a “huge loss” for the village.
“Jason Guilliams has been our strongest leader and always fiscally responsible as Finance Chairman,” Brenkus said.
“He’s never been a dictator, or one to micromanage staff or projects. He’s always trusted in us to do our jobs and supported administration along the way.”
Council will appoint Guilliams successor
Guilliam’s peers on village council will select his successor.
Per Ohio law, the rest of village council must appoint a new member within 30 days of Guilliams’ official resignation. If they fail to do so, the responsibility of selecting a new council member falls to the mayor.
Council will be accepting letters of interest and resumes via email, in-person at village hall or during regularly-scheduled council meetings. Interested parties can email council president Justin Enix at justinenix.bellville.ohio@gmail.com.
The appointee will fill the remainder of Guilliams’ current term, which expires Dec. 31, 2025.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old, a resident of Bellville for at least one year and qualified to vote in the village, according to a guide from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.
