BREAKING NEWS: City Hall in turmoil

Clarendon Alderman Debbie Roberts Hillis turned in her resignation this afternoon, leaving the Board of Aldermen without a quorum and unable to meet.

Hillis’ resignation comes one day after two other board members – Abby Patten and Jesus Hernandez – also resigned. The five-member board now only has two members left – Sandy Skelton and Will Thompson – who cannot take action on their own.

Mayor Larry Hicks is exploring the city’s options at this time. City Hall says advisors with the Texas Secretary of State’s office and the Texas Municipal League say the city must have an election to fill the vacancies. There is a process to have the county commissioners’ court call a November election, or the city can apply to Governor Rick Perry’s office to call an emergency election at a time of the governor’s choosing.

A November election is problematic because the city’s tax rate and budget have to be set before the end of September. Otherwise the current tax rate and current budget would carry over into the new fiscal year.

A third election option would be to wait until next May when the three positions would be up for a vote regularly.

For now, city operations continue as usual with all current city policies and the budget in place. The Enterprise will have more information as it becomes available.

For more on Tuesday’s resignations and an interview of city officials by the district attorney’s office, check out this week’s Enterprise on newsstands now or available by clicking here.