In a surprising turn of events, Alex Tardif has withdrawn his candidacy for Position 1 of the Columbia County Commissioners, taking himself off of the ballot for the runoff election between himself and incumbent County Commissioner Margaret Magruder.
Tardif's exit from the commissioner's race was confirmed by Columbia County Public Information Officer Mark Pacheco via email June 27. When asked what the result will be for the election, Pacheco said that Tardif's name will not appear on the November ballot but that "everything else will proceed as normal."
In addition to withdrawing from the race for county commissioner, Tardif is no longer working as the Executive Director for Columbia Pacific Food Bank and is also no longer on the Board of Directors for Columbia County Mental Health.
The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief reached out to Tardif via email, asking why he is no longer in the election or Executive Director at Columbia Pacific Food Bank. Tarif shared the following message:
"I've made the decision to withdraw from the election to focus on my family and health. Serving our community has been a joy, but now it is crucial for me to prioritize myself. Life is unpredictable, and time with loved ones is precious. To lead effectively, I need to ensure my own well-being. I'm truly grateful for the community's support, and will continue to show up and support as I can. Those who know me well understand my passion for helping others, however, during this season of life I must step back to focus on my family," Tardif stated.
With Tardif no longer acting as Executive Director at Columbia Pacific Food Bank, Casey Wheeler has returned from retirement to assume the role of Interim Executive Director.
"Alex is no longer here, and I am serving as the Interim Executive Director. I was the Executive Director for 8-plus years before Alex came here, and I retired," Wheeler said. "I'm back out of retirement for a short period of time just to oversee everything, and help the board find a new executive director.
Wheeler said this development arose late last week and that his first day back on the job was Monday, June 24. When asked for details regarding the circumstances of Tardif's departure from Columbia Pacific Food Bank, Wheeler said he would not comment as to whether Tardif had been terminated or left of his own accord.
"We never comment on personnel, things like that," Wheeler said.
Wheeler said Columbia Pacific Food Bank's policy is not to comment on personnel matters. Regarding the search for the next executive director, Wheeler said he hopes to find a suitable candidate by the end of the year.
Regarding the development in the election, Magruder said she was "surprised to hear the news of Alex's withdrawal from the race."
"As County Commissioner, I remain dedicated to performing my duties and working hard to earn the citizens' votes in November. Representing Columbia County is an honor, and I look forward to serving our community for another four years," Magruder said.
In response to a question about his message to voters following his withdrawal from the race, Tardif said his message is to "stay hopeful and engaged in shaping our community's future."
"Together, we can make a real difference. To anyone struggling, remember you are not alone, and help is available. Take care of yourselves," Tardif said. "This isn't goodbye, just see you later."
Follow this developing story at thechronicleonline.com, thechiefnews.com, and in the Wednesday print editions of the Columbia County Chronicle & Chief.
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