Selvidge resigns as mayor of Clarendon

Clarendon Mayor Leonard “Tex” Selvidge stepped down Tuesday night after serving the city for 14 of the last 30 years.

“I just think it’s time for me to resign,” Selvidge said prior to Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen. “I could serve another year, but we need to start some more projects, and I don’t want to start one and not see it finished.”

The mayor said the completion of the 2005 street-paving project seemed to him like a good time for change.

Selvidge leaves office after leading the city longer than any other mayor since Clarendon was incorporated in 1901. He served a total of 12 years as mayor, taking the position first from 1977 to 1980 and returning to office in 1997.

Selvidge also served as member of the Board of Aldermen in 1976 and 1981.

He said serving his community was something he thought everyone should do.

“I’ve always felt like if you’re going to live somewhere, you ought to give something to it,” Selvidge said. “It would thrill me if every election we had 10 or 12 people running for every spot on every board in the county.”

Selvidge said he always tried to put the community’s interests first; and he said on the rare occasions he was called on to break a tie, he tried to vote for his convictions.

“I’m not saying I did a better job than anyone else would have, but I hope I contributed something to the community,” he said. “I’m sure some would disagree, but everyone is entitled to their opinions.”

Selvidge says he’s proud to have been a part of several moments during his times in office, including the recent street project, the numerous grants received to improve the city, the updating and codification of the city ordinances, and the development of the city-county library downtown.

City Secretary Linda Smith had kind words for the city’s outgoing chief executive.

“I’ve enjoyed working with Tex,” Smith said. “He’s always been good to me, and he’s been a good mayor.”

Alderman Mark White was chosen by the board to serve the remainder of Selvidge’s term and was sworn in as Clarendon’s 35th mayor, and his predecessor thinks he will do a fine job.

“I think the city will be in good shape,” Selvidge said.