Defianceâs long-serving city administrator, Jeff Leonard, received another one-year contract recently, continuing a long period of stability for the position.
The change of the calendar marks Leonardâs 17th year in the job â which is an annual appointment by the sitting mayor with city councilâs acquiescence â and his 29th with the city.
âThis is the town I grew up in, so itâs been a little easier for me to do the job,â said Leonard, 63, who also served as Defiance city finance director from 1992-2004. âYou do it because this is where you grew up and you want to make it better. If Iâve had any longevity, itâs for that reason.