By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FLORENCE - City Coordinator Jeff Koenig is stepping down and will be replaced by the person who helped lead Newport's redevelopment.

Koenig, 35, who has held the city manager post since 1999, will become a vice president at Automotive Service Products, a Burlington company that provides office supplies to car dealerships. The company is owned by Koenig's father-in-law, Norb Vater.

"It's not something that I sought out," Koenig said. "The city is doing some thing great things, I enjoy the people I work with. ... It's not easy, but it's something I couldn't pass up."

Koenig will be vice president of sales and marketing.

Koenig's last day at the city will be March 1. The new city coordinator, Pat Wingo, who had been Newport's economic development director, will join the city Feb. 1, said Mayor Diane Whalen.

"All the things that we are doing will continue, we'll just have a different person steering the ship," Whalen said.

Koenig's knowledge of the city will be hard to replace, she said. He has been with the city 13 years, starting out as a co-op in the Public Services Department. He then became project manager and director of the department.

During Koenig's tenure as city coordinator, the city focused on recreation and economic development, which resulted in the minor league baseball stadium now under construction, a skate park, an aquatic center and several other new parks.

Florence City Council must still approve Wingo's appointment to the position.

Wingo could not be reached for comment Monday. She grew up in Cincinnati, and is a graduate of Summit Country Day School and the University of Cincinnati.

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E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com