Long-time mayor cites health reasons for stepping down as the mayor during meeting
Bondurant
Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant, Jr., resigned as the town's mayor at the conclusion of Tuesday afternoon's council meeting, ending a 23-year run as the town's mayor.
"Effective immediately, I resign as mayor due to my health," Bondurant said during mayor's comments. "My doctors have told me I don't need to do this anymore."
Councilwoman Kay Wagner asked Bondurant if he had considered a leave of absence; Councilman Roger Adkinson said it was "quite a shock" and told Bondurant he appreciated the job he's done; and Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Johnson told the mayor he wished he would reconsider.
"We have our differences," said Councilwoman Lillian Dean. "I wish you would take a leave of absence and come back in a month or two. You've done too much for this town to just walk away."
Bondurant said he's been surrounded by good people and noted the outstanding jobs done by Utilities Superintendent Shaun Moye, Town Clerk Carrie Moore and all the employees in the town.
"My health is more important," Bondurant said. "When you wake up at 2 a.m. and all you think of is what's going on down here."
Councilman Charlie Reardon also thanked Bondurant for what he's done for Flomaton and asked him to reconsider.
Bondurant, 75, noted that his resignation was immediate and Tuesday's meeting would be his last.
According the Alabama state law, in towns with a population less than 12,000, in the event a mayor resigns "The council shall fill the vacancy either from its own membership or from outside the membership of the council".
If the vacancy in the mayor's position is not filled within 60 days, current council members may submit a name to the governor for appointment. If the governor fails to make an appointment from the submitted names within 90 days of the vacancy, the judge of probate shall call a special election to fill the vacancy.
Should the council vote to appoint a council member to the mayor's position, it would then have to appoint someone to fill the vacant council seat. Any appointment will be for the remainder of the current term, which runs until 2025.
