By Mindy Ragan Wood
Staff Writer
Mayor Valorie Thomerson has officially resigned from the city council, city officials confirmed Thursday.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must tender my resignation effective immediately. My husband and I had been planning to return to Texas next year, but an employment opportunity has come available which I am unable to refuse,” she wrote in a resignation letter. “It has been a wonderful experience and I apologize that I am unable to serve out my last full year as Mayor. It has been an honor and a privilege to represent and serve the city of Piedmont.”
Vice-Mayor Bobby Williamson will serve as acting mayor until the next mayoral election in April, according to city ordinance.
Williamson said Thomerson will be missed.
“She has been a good friend and a close colleague,” Williamson said by phone Thursday. “She has weathered a lot of storms in her seven, almost eight years as mayor. We’ve had the most growth in Piedmont during her term and I think she has done a lot to be credited for that. She’s also the first female mayor of Piedmont.”
Williamson is the first person to serve as Piedmont mayor and president of the chamber of commerce. Williamson said he’s looking forward to the dual leadership roles.
“All I can say is I’m excited for the opportunity and I look forward to working with the council and really look forward to getting some things done. Taking this leadership role is the pinnacle of my (public service) career. I look at this as an outstanding opportunity,” he said. “I’ve been in Piedmont for 10 years and I love it.”
Williamson said he intends to seek the mayor’s post in the spring election.
“There are some things I want to accomplish. I believe the buck stops at the mayor’s desk. I plan to be present and accountable and I think transparency is a must, especially in today’s municipal government. I would like to reflect that in the next 9 months until the election.”
Williamson said he had not yet appointed a vice-mayor.
“We have an outstanding city council to choose from but I have not made that decision at this time,” he said.
Thomerson expressed her gratitude to the community in the closing comments of her letter.
“As mayor, I have received a great deal of credit when there was an army of dedicated citizens behind me. Never would I have achieved so much without the support of the community. Finally, I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to all those who have supported me during my years in office,” she wrote.
