Less than a week after Mayor Robert Smith announced he is working from home, he said Monday his re-election campaign operations are resuming.
In a statement he released through his campaign email, Smith addressed rumors he might drop out of the race due to an undisclosed health condition that hospitalized him briefly on Feb. 21. Since then he has been recovering from home, and Vice Mayor Bill Gavin, who represents Ward 6 on the city council, has led day-to-day city operations.
“Good afternoon. I want to take a moment to officially announce to the citizens of Columbus that I am not withdrawing from the mayoral race,” Smith said in his email. “Rather, I am again seeking re-election to the office of Mayor of the City of Columbus.”
The mayor said in another prepared statement last week he is communicating with city officials and department heads daily while working from home and noted he was waiting for his doctor to clear him to return to City Hall. The Dispatch requested an update on Smith’s work status on Monday, but Columbus Public Information Officer Joe Dillon had not provided one by press time.
Smith is the only Democrat running in the mayor’s race. He will face independents Montrell Coburn and Keith Gaskin in the general election June 8.
Conflict disclosure: Managing Editor Zack Plair took part in editing this article. He is currently in legal proceedings that involve the city of Columbus. Details are available in previous reporting.
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