Councilman Wellman resigns, election set for November

Councilmember Harrison Wellman has resigned from the Olney City Council to move with his family to Puerto Rico for his work with Tower Extrusions, Mayor Rue Rogers said.

Mr. Wellman’s resignation was effective as of the July 8 City Council meeting. The City’s bylaws allow the Council to conduct business in the absence of one Councilmember, Mayor Rogers said. The City will hold an election in November for the remainder of Mr. Wellman’s term, which expires in May of 2025, when the seat will be up for a full, two-year term, he said.

The City Council accepted the resignation of Mr. Wellman, who had been elected Mayor Pro Tem in May. The Council unanimously elected Councilmember Chuck Stennett as Mayor Pro Tem.

Mr. Wellman’s departure is the fourth turnover of a Council seat in the past year. Former Mayor Pro Tem Tom Parker resigned to take over as executive director of the Olney Economic Development Corporation. Councilmember Brad Simmons resigned before moved out of the city limits, Tommy Kimbro declined to run for another term in the May election.