Montanez resigns, Copperas Cove city council to call for special election

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

At last week’s Jan. 16 meeting of the Copperas Cove city council, the council voted to accept the resignation of Manuel Montanez from Place 5.

In his resignation letter dated Jan. 11, Montanez stated that “due to unforeseen circumstances” he would be moving out of Copperas Cove, and that as he would no longer reside in Copperas Cove he would no longer be able to fulfill duties as a City Councilman effective immediately.

Montanez was elected in November 2022 and ran unopposed after Place 5 incumbent Dianne Campbell withdrew from the race.

According to the City of Copperas Cove charter, there is provision for a special election to be held to fill the remainder of the term for Place 5, which ends in November 2025.

With more than 12 months left of the term, according to City Charter this means that the vacancy shall be filled at the general election consistent with state law.

Kevin Keller, the city’s Director of Public Relations, said that the City has confirmed with the City Attorney that a Special Election will need to be called. He said that the city is already working with Coryell County’s elections administrator in the hopes of getting this added to the May 4 ballot.

This will be an upcoming action item on the council’s upcoming Feb. 6 meeting.