Union County Commissioner Richard Headid suspends participation after residency complaint

State’s Attorney Jerry Miller told the Union County Board of Commissioners that an anonymous complaint alleges Commissioner Richard Headid "had moved out of his district," prompting legal review and a request that Headid suspend his participation.

Miller said the complaint cited statutes that could support declaring the District 3 seat vacant. Auditor Traci Torrez recounted that on or about July 23, 2024 she received written notice from Headid with a new address — 303 Dakota Dunes Blvd — that briefly appeared on the county website and was outside District 3. The Auditor said she called Headid and advised him of the discrepancy; according to Miller, Headid later "admitted that he had moved to the address at 303 Dakota Dunes Blvd and that he thought the address was within his district." Headid agreed at the Oct. 15 meeting to voluntarily suspend participation.

Miller recommended three steps to the board: place an agenda item at the next meeting to consider declaring the District 3 seat vacant effective on or before July 23, 2024; review and, if appropriate, ratify or readdress any official actions Headid took after establishing the out-of-district residence; and select a chairperson and vice chairperson at the next meeting to address leadership while Headid is suspended. The board announced it will place those items on the next agenda for consideration.

The board did not take a final vote on a vacancy at the Oct. 15 session. The matter will return to a public agenda for formal action, and any decision about vacancy or ratification of past board actions will be made in a subsequent open meeting.