Bill Richardson Officially Resigns From City Council

SAN ANGELO, TX- This afternoon, Bill Richardson handed San Angelo Mayor Dwain Morrison a letter of resignation from his position as the City Council representative for Single Member District 1. 

Morrison said there was no more information other than a short statement of Richardson's resignation and his signature. 

"I resign immediately," Morrison read from Richardson's letter. 

Regarding the sudden change, Morrison said a workshop is planned for Tuesday of next week. It will be put on the council's agenda so that members can officially accept his resignation. 

Mayor Morrison said he is "comfortable" with Richardson's resignation despite there normally being a timeline for this procedure. 

The City Council can fill the vacancy if an unanimous vote of 6-0 is decided. There is also an option for a special election to take place if a decision can't be finalized.  

"We will try and fill up the position," Morrison said. 

He also noted that nothing has gone to plan with the normal rules and regulations. 

"The man made a mistake; he took credit for the mistake," Morrison said. 

He added that when Richardson offered his apology yesterday, he was understood to be considerate and apologetic. 

" He [has] taken ownership for everything that he's done," Morrison said.

Previous SMD 1 council member Rodney Fleming, who helped to actively remove Richardson from his post, had this to say on his social media, "So glad Bill Richardson did the right thing for once and resigned! Saves us all time and money!"

LIVE! has reached out to Richardson via phone and email, and an update will be provided if he responds to our request for comment. 

UPDATE @ 1:50 p.m.

This afternoon, the City's Public Information Officer, Anthony Wilson, sent out a press release regarding Richardson's submitted written resignation to Mayor Morrison this morning.

He said, "According to a Texas Attorney General opinion, the resignation will become effective once it is approved or accepted by the City Council or once eight days have passed since receipt of the resignation."

Also, the City Council will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday to engage in its annual strategic planning session. City Clerk Bryan Kendrick said a special meeting may be called prior to the planning session Thursday morning for the Council to consider acceptance of Councilman Richardson’s resignation and to discuss its options for filling the seat.

"Under the city charter, vacancies of any elected City office can be filled by a unanimous vote of the remaining City Council members for the unexpired term," said Wilson. "The District 1 seat’s term ends in May 2019."

He also noted that if a unanimous vote cannot be obtained within 30 days of the effective date of the vacancy, a special election shall be called for the first uniform election date under state law.

"Kendrick, the City’s chief elections officer, said the Council could, at its March 7 meeting, call a special election to be held in conjunction with the May 6 City Council election," Wilson added. "That election will fill the mayor’s post and the District 2, 4 and 6 seats for the next four years."