The City Council of Keystone Heights bid farewell to Elston “Speedy” Kussler as he stepped down from his position as City Councilman and Vice Mayor.
Kussler, a longtime resident of Keystone Heights, met his future wife a few years ago, and they recently purchased a home outside the city limits. Due to this change, Kussler had to resign, as members of the city board must live within the city limits.
During the farewell, Kussler took a moment to address the council and the public, sharing his parting thoughts.
“Thank you for the opportunity,” he said. “I enjoyed working with everyone, including Drew, and her efforts with the community and various organizations. I appreciate Rich, our attorney, and Wendy, our Admin. Assistant, James Booth, the City Manager, and our City Council, along with Mayor Nina. I will miss being part of the team and participating in the events.”
Kussler said that while he loved serving as a city council member, he was also excited to step down and begin a new life with his fiancée.
During the meeting, City Councilman Ryan Knight nominated Brandon Ludwig to replace Kussler, and Dave Welsh was also nominated for Vice Mayor.
Ludwig said he was quite surprised by the prestigious nomination from the entire board. He delivered a speech and said he felt honored to accept the position of City Councilman for 2026.
He will be sworn in on December 16 until formal elections are held sometime next year.
Three additional positions were filled: Jenn Samsel was appointed to the Heritage Commission board, James Booth was appointed to continue as City Manager after serving as interim City Manager, and Franklin Fields was appointed to City Seat 1 on the Keystone Heights Airport Authority Board.
