A Republican, Collins, 53, ran unopposed in November to succeed Church, a Democrat who is finishing his seventh straight term as Miamisburg’s longest-serving mayor.
“I have all of the faith in the world that Michelle will be a great leader for this town,” Church said recently.
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“We have worked together over the past several months to make sure that we have a smooth transition,” Church added. “I would urge our citizens to get behind Michelle and work with her to keep these great things happening in Miamisburg.”
Collins, who has run a real estate business for nearly three decades, was elected to city council in 2015, defeating incumbent Charles Case in her first bid for elected office.
Earlier this year, Collins said becoming the city’s first female mayor “would be an honor,” but she said it wasn’t at the forefront of her decision to run.
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“I’ve always looked at my public service as my desire to give back to a community that’s been so good to me,” she said. “The fact that I’m a female really didn’t enter into my thought of running.”
Miamisburg’s mayor is paid $14,500 a year, and the job is considered part time.
Collins is a 1984 Miamisburg High School graduate and attended Heidelberg College, Cape Cod Community College, Wright State University and Hondros College.
She and her husband John Ebersole have been married for nearly 10 years.
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