Cibolo councilman reinstated to seat

A Cibolo councilman has been reinstated to his seat after losing it when he applied for a post on a local water board, a violation of the city's charter.

Councilman James Doty had to forfeit his seat in August when he filed for a post on the Green Valley Special Utility District board of directors in the November election. GVSUD provides water services for parts of Cibolo.

The councilman said when he applied for the water board seat on Aug. 18, the filing deadline, he did not realize the GVSUD post was an elected position.

According to the city charter, if an elected city official places his or her name on the ballot for another elected post their council seat automatically becomes vacant.

Doty said he thought the GVSUD post was an appointed, unelected position.

It was a mistake, he said. It was a human error.

He said he withdrew his name from the GVSUD post once city officials notified him that he could not retain his council seat under the city charter if he ran for the water board.

To rectify the situation, the Cibolo City Council voted to appoint Doty back to his seat at a Saturday special meeting following procedures set forth in the city charter.

According to the city charter, the council has up to 30 days to fill a seat once it becomes vacant.

The city posted the council vacancy on its website, with a copy of the application for those who wanted to be appointed to the position.

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Cibolo councilman reinstated to seat