Following the resignation of the now former Mayor of Grand Junction Dave Kersey, the City Council voted in favor of appointing an individual to fill the vacancy.

Mayor Pro-Tem Teresa Lansman tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the Council met in special session Thursday. After the Council accepted Kersey’s resignation, they decided to appoint someone to fill the vacancy instead of having a special election.

On Sunday, Kersey sent City Clerk Katherine Thomas a text saying that he was resigning as mayor. Kersey tells Raccoon Valley Radio why he stepped down as mayor.

“When I was elected by my peers, I had goals. I knew it was going to be a struggle the whole time. But when certain people, from outside of the corporate city limits of Grand Junction, can dictate and have more power, it would appear than the mayor and the council, to get what they want as opposed to what the city needs, and a couple of council members kneeling down to them, it was a no win situation for me.”

The Council has 60 days to appoint an individual. Lansman says the Council is expected to make the appointment at their April regular meeting.

The vacancy will be filled until this November’s election, when the mayor’s position is up for election for a two-year term.