Longtime Rush Township Supervisor Robert Leibensperger will resign at the end of the year.

Leibensperger, who has two years left in his term, formally announced his resignation at Monday’s board meeting.

Reading from a prepared letter addressed to the Schuylkill County Board of Elections, Leibensperger said the Dec. 31 resignation comes with “a heavy heart and a deep respect for the township.”

“Spending the last 16 years as a township supervisor, I have strived for the quality of living for all residents of Rush Township,” he said.

He noted that he was proud of the progress he made with Chairman Shawn Gilbert and former Supervisor Jeaninne Motroni.

“We have secured over $7 million in grants for the township, allowing us to make improvements without raising taxes, saving the residents money,” he said. “From recycling grants for equipment, recycling performance grants, sanitary sewer and stormwater replacement grants, road improvement and most importantly recreation grants for the benefit of both children and adults in Rush Township.”

He explained that many might believe serving on the board of is a part-time role.

“In reality, the time commitment to this position is much more than part-time,” Leibensperger said. “I’ve attended classes on how to secure grants and spent countless hours implementing this knowledge in successful grant writing. I’ve also attended inter-municipal, county, and state meetings, ensuring Rush Township was represented.”

He said that he while he prided himself on his commitment to this position, and on running the township with the least amount of financial impact on residents, he noted that “the climate has shifted.”

“The ultimate insult was the 2025 election, where some residents felt the need to spread inaccuracies and lies on social media, trying to taint public opinion and my reputation along with Shawn Gilbert’s,” he said.

Gilbert lost his bid for reelectionin the May primary election, having been edged out by candidate James Stewart.

Leibensperger also noted that he felt he was personally targeted by “another township supervisor,” but did not name the supervisor. Rounding out the board, in addition to Leibensperger and Gilbert, is Supervisor George Gerhard.

“I foresee a raise in taxes in the near future because of the personal gains this supervisor is looking for, which would contradict the fiscal responsibility I have strived for all these years,” he said.

Leibensperger asked township secretary to forward the letter to the Schuylkill County Board of Elections.

He was reelected to the position in the November 2021 general election.