The drive to St. Louis was one-and-a-half hours, the time flying to the East Coast was about four hours and the time away from family was just too much for Fifth Ward City Councilwoman Helen Anthony. On Oct. 15, Anthony announced she was resigning from her three-year term after 18 months in office, effective Nov. 30.

Anthony began traveling extensively the summer of 2012 – her husband, Douglas C. Anthony, took a job at Brown University in February and her father in Connecticut had heart valve surgery. These events made Anthony realize she needed to be with her family. After her youngest daughter’s high school graduation in Columbia, Anthony was able to leave for the East Coast. In other words, it was time to resign.

“Although I fought hard for the seat and I love doing the work, I feel I need to resign,” she said. “The Fifth Ward deserves to have a representative in Columbia more than I could be.”

Anthony’s roots are on the East Coast: She was born in Connecticut and lived in Massachusetts. Nine years ago, she moved to Columbia with three of her children to join her husband, the chair of Pathology at MU. Quickly after moving, she became involved in Columbia’s city government.

Although Anthony is licensed to practice law in Missouri, she decided to devote her time to her four children and her new home.

“I’m one of those people who believes if you have the time to give back, you should,” she said.

And give back she did. Anthony was a member of the Assistance League of Mid-Missouri, a member of the Progressive Women of Mid-Missouri, a board member of Planned Parenthood of Kansas City and Mid-Missouri, vice president of the Pines Homeowners Association and on the legal counsel to elect Judy Baker for Congress in 2008. Most notably, Anthony was secretary of the Boone County Planning & Zoning Commission in 2007.

Then, in December 2010, she decided to run to represent the Fifth Ward in the Columbia City Council.

“I was surprised about the lack of a comprehensive plan for the growth of (Columbia),” Anthony said.

Anthony said compared to her opponent, attorney Glen Ehrhardt, she thought she was the only candidate who would change the disorganization.

“Having been involved in the Planning & Zoning Commission, it was obvious to me that the council and the candidate running didn’t have a plan for growth (of the city),” she said. “I was in a good position to get in there and articulate that.”

Anthony was elected in April 2011.

Although she served a short time in office, she said she was successful in raising the issue of city planning, saying her biggest accomplishment was promoting a comprehensive plan for the city’s land usage.

Mayor Bob McDavid agreed and said she was most effective with her work on rental occupation violations and traffic issues, specifically the future placement of electric power lines at places such as Providence Road.

“She is a very intelligent woman and is very engaged with her constituents,” he said.

Anthony echoed the same admiration with the city.

“It is a very engaged community,” she said. “I love the passionate people in Columbia. From them, I got a lot of (my) energy.”

Anthony’s involvement with city government will change when she moves to Providence, R.I., in the near future.

“I think it’s time for me to retire from volunteer work and take a paid job,” she said.

As Anthony is preparing to board the eastbound plane permanently, Columbia is preparing to fill the Fifth Ward City Council seat.

“I hope (whoever takes office) will focus on the balance we need to have,” Anthony said. “We need to be attracting businesses with our quality of life and balance that with infrastructure and planned growth.”

The city is setting up an election but there is a state statute on when that election can be held, McDavid said. The election could be in either February or April.

Interest in Anthony’s seat on City Council has already begun: Susan “Tootie” Burns announced Oct. 19 that she will run for the position, according to the Columbia Missourian.

McDavid said Anthony brought a lot of ideas to the city.

“She leaves big shoes to fill for whomever takes over,” he said.