[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6045801,"mediaKeyId","3575750-1e624ebc5fc8de7d0690522e385a623a","parentId",3575750,"title","Temple accepts resignation of Council member Susan Long; council sets appointment timeline","audioSeconds",795,"startMs",1097000,"endMs",1892000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3575750-1e624ebc5fc8de7d0690522e385a623a&start=1097&end=1892","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3575750-1e624ebc5fc8de7d0690522e385a623a/thumbnail_1097000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6045801/Temple/Bell-County/Texas/Temple-accepts-resignation-of-Council-member-Susan-Long-council-sets-appointment-timeline","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6045801-786a894a4bae74f8426859792bb6d682/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181930&Signature=dWxq5RmuhxSh6bFkKBdKRBl4zuIrcdEuuO8AwE0XOJTS8R5EV6P1Ms6zbyAcFAE9mwW52jbc~iALQj1jBTJan4O6C4-KRZznjg~bxk226Ta3K8EA9GK4U8yuCHmKjXrlzPeHAfkkAAGvf8scTbjhq9~tAlFf2Q5KZIVhZaWPb9a~N5-U~lntifL72GtOhHKB0gxtzoBo-ikAbgNdZP-s1eNE52BdggkqW-kQhWUCbWfzrRh9ScC3Mgus5Tm~DUsrliW6Kx04VrqVQyI8GBg~1fO5nX6URfHqqhcOBxUEVwDzR7~nqW9IwN9tEwWCmX0rNgMtzwXewOyLuhyB0srkOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Temple","date","2025-05-14T01:56:15Z","article","The Temple City Council on May 13 unanimously accepted the resignation of District 3 Council member Susan Long and outlined a schedule to fill the vacancy by appointment.

Mayor read two letters from Susan Long explaining her decision to resign: in one excerpt Long wrote that \"my life has changed irrevocably due to my husband's serious illness, repeat hospitalizations, and surgeries,\" and in another she said that because of her husband's ongoing needs and her own injury she \"will not be available for the time required for some of the council activities.\" The mayor read both letters during the public portion of the meeting.

The council motion to accept the resignation was made by Mayor Pro Tem Walker and seconded by Council member Mike Pilkington; the vote was 4-0 in favor. Council members then discussed the process for filling the vacancy. A City staff member told the council that \"according to your charter, if there's less than a year remaining in a term, it then the council does have the authority to make that appointment,\" and described the staff-recommended timeline and procedures.

Staff said the city will post the vacancy and begin accepting applications starting May 14. The staff presentation clarified the timeline as follows: completed, notarized applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28; council will review applications in a special called workshop on Thursday, May 29; interviews are expected to take place in early June (June 2–4 are proposed dates); and the council may place an appointment item on its regular June 5 agenda if it is prepared to act. Staff also said the council may delay the appointment to June 26 or July 3 if it is not ready to appoint on June 5.

Why this matters: the appointment will fill a District 3 seat on a council that handles zoning, public works, budgeting and other matters that affect city residents. Susan Long had served on the council since 2017, and council members and staff praised her community service during the meeting.

Council directed staff to issue a press release, publish application materials and manage scheduling for candidate interviews. The council then recessed to executive session to begin work on finding a replacement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Temple - Special Called City Council Meeting 2025-05-13","oneSentenceSummary","The Temple City Council accepted the resignation of District 3 Council member Susan Long on May 13 and directed staff to post the vacancy and begin an expedited appointment process, with applications opening May 14 and due May 28 and council review and interviews scheduled for late May and early June.","taxTitle","Temple, Bell County, Texas","taxId",2770,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6045806,"Temple certifies May 3 election; Jessica Walker, Mike Pilkington sworn in",269,596000,865000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3575750-1e624ebc5fc8de7d0690522e385a623a&start=596&end=865","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3575750-1e624ebc5fc8de7d0690522e385a623a/thumbnail_596000.jpg","/articles/6045806/Temple/Bell-County/Texas/Temple-certifies-May-3-election-Jessica-Walker-Mike-Pilkington-sworn-in","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6045806-b4ee8a854e1458630690ef0e6416d01c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181930&Signature=mXb8Hh5Ti0Kh3ixDjF~GT7xV9P0cPn9DySkCXdhDJLE~zsHTn~cl6Pl6dAg57CahMJxZu1OrYNeqv8M3LztXbco90QN0mGpuOt1RHjlRiTIL9KNhz5fXmWcuT2un7MOzDqrFCiv3UjJyKvHO6AWfXMpPPYdPxnpBoPUlnRzENdbACKz6EJ2t~2DaawjHLAaeT~-C6LlSt1zIBApFxSwNdgAjFeaEAKOumh5enRHh3JWeiMcrN7fp5ghulsKHtP6Gx26-v7DEcaa8DGqAT0sEREPHy6q1KmTnjdrRhjfwFrhv~dRH7CVj285v6ieJjY2b7ukok2bBYnuS4Fbah1qaag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Temple City Council on May 13 adopted a resolution canvassing the returns of the May 3, 2025, general election, certifying Jessica Walker as council member for District 1 and declaring Mike Pilkington elected to council member District 4; both were sworn into office at the meeting.

The certification followed a presentation from City staff member Miss Lamellen, who reported that \"the returns for the May election for District 1 confirmed that 453 registered voters cast legal and valid votes, and the results are as follows. District 1 Jessica Walker received 355 votes.\" Miss Lamellen then stated, \"As the official canvassing authority for the May for the city of Temple, I here certify that Jessica Walker is hereby declared elected as council member for District 1 and Mike Pilkington for council member district 4.\"

Why this matters: the canvass completes the formal steps to seat two council members after the May 3 election and restores full representation for the affected districts.

Council moved the item with a motion from Council member Grant and a second from Council member Cookington; the vote on the canvass resolution was 4-0 in favor. After certification, a judge administered the oath of office to both council members. The judge remarked about Pilkington: \"With mister Pilkington, what I wanna say about Mike Pilkington is that over the years, I have really come to know him as a very fair and kind and just person.\" The judge also addressed Walker before administering the oath.

Jessica Walker, after being sworn in, thanked District 1 voters and urged turnout: \"We have over, I think, 10,000 registered voters in District 1, and so few people actually came out and, did their duty. And it truly means every vote does count, and, we saw that most definitely at this election.\" Mike Pilkington said he was \"very honored\" to return to the council and noted that having no opposition made the process easier for him.

The council continued its meeting after the swearing-in; later in the session it moved to executive session for other business.","At a May 13 special call meeting the Temple City Council formally canvassed the May 3 general election, certifying Jessica Walker as council member for District 1 and declaring Mike Pilkington elected to District 4; both took the oath of office.","actionData","errors"]

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Temple accepts resignation of Council member Susan Long; council sets appointment timeline

Temple certifies May 3 election; Jessica Walker, Mike Pilkington sworn in