Mike Doenges. Photo courtesy of Mike Doenges Rutland City Mayor Mike Doenges is stepping down from his post midway through his second term, he said Thursday. Doenges will remain in the role until Feb. 27, less than a week before Town Meeting Day on March 3, according to his announcement. The decision came after Doenges received a “once-in-a-decade” opportunity to return to his former employer in the technology sales sector, and he made the choice for the long-term benefit of him and his family, he said. Doenges plans to support the transition of city leadership in his last month as mayor, he added.  “I never wanted to be a long-term politician,” Doenges said. “I ran for mayor of Rutland to help Rutland right my community. We’ve institutionalized so many good things at this point that I know Rutland will continue to grow and succeed, and it’s really, really important that people continue to come out and vote for our future by choosing their representatives on Town Meeting Day.” In 2023, Doenges unseated three-term mayor David Alliare, who currently serves as president of the Rutland City Board of Aldermen.  Last year, Doenges faced off against a former city clerk and Alderman Henry Heck. The campaign focused on affordability issues. Doenges gained endorsements from several local unions and ultimately won with 56% of the vote.  During his three years in office, Doenges’ focused on cutting bureaucratic tape to increase the city’s housing stock through the Roofs Over Rutland program, with a goal of 1,000 new units by 2028. Doenges oversaw $8 million of increased investment in housing, and Rutland has gained 250 permits for new housing units in the past two years, according to the mayor’s announcement. The mayor also helped shepherd the approval of a Tax Increment Financing District city voters supported to build out infrastructure improvements in the city’s downtown without immediately burdening taxpayers, Doenges said. Along with downtown revitalization efforts, Doenges said the new Capital Improvement Plan, local option tax and debt management strategies has put “the city in a financial place to grow and make it more affordable over the next 20 years,” Doenges said. But his last year in office was mired in controversy after Rutland City locals pushed back against his decision not to reappoint the city’s recreation superintendent due to claims she failed to do proper background checks, according to public records obtained by VTDigger.  Reflecting on his role, Doenges said he has also addressed public safety and managing the challenge of homelessness in the city. To address these dual concerns, Doenges said he has invested in fully staffing the Rutland City Police Department. He has also worked toward legislation that changes how shoplifting charges are handled and increases sentences for drug charges, Doenges added. “Public safety and accountability have really ramped up over the last few years,” Doenges said. “There’s still more work to do in all of these respects, but I think Rutland is better for the work that we’ve put in in all of those areas.” Read the story on VTDigger here: Rutland City mayor Mike Doenges announces resignation. ...read more read less