Jackson City Councilperson Kelsey Heck Resigns Seat; Recall Election Cancelled

(April 7, 2020 5:08 PM) Jackson 5th Ward Councilperson Kelsey Heck has resigned her seat.  Heck submitted her resignation to the mayor and council on Monday, April 6 effective immediately.

Heck faced a recall election that had been scheduled for May 5.  The city has now cancelled the election.  State law says if the person under recall resigns before the election, the election shall not take place.  This was the only issue on the May ballot, and no other election was taking place outside Ward 5.

Per the City Charter, the City Council fills council seat vacancies by appointment. The person appointed would have to be a resident of the 5th Ward.

City spokesman Aaron Dimick said there is currently no timeline for filling the seat.  He expects the issue to come up at the next council meeting on April 14.

In the letter of resignation, Heck said, ““The moment I was appointed to fill the Ward 5 vacancy a small group of vocal people – several people who also applied for the appointment – vowed to recall me from office. This unrelenting nastiness has taken a toll, as I imagine it would for any reasonable person, and I think there is strength in acknowledging my limits. I’ve decided that I’m going to hold on to the good I’ve managed to do and let go of the rest.”

In her letter, Heck recapped some of her accomplishments as Councilperson, including her work on the Harm Reduction and Needle Exchange Program and the Gun Violence Task Force.

Heck told JTV, “It’s been a great honor to have met and worked with so many people who I never would interacted with otherwise.”

There is not a general election scheduled for this ward seat until Nov. 2021, which is the next time the seat is up for re-election. Whoever is appointed would fill out the rest of the 2017-2021 term.

Former Councilmember Andrew Frounfelker resigned in June 2018. Kelsey Heck was appointed in Sept. 2018.