Councilwoman Marty Smith tenders resignation

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

On Thursday, August 11, Copperas Cove city place 4 councilwoman Marty Smith submitted notice of her immediate resignation in the form of a letter which she emailed to Copperas Cove mayor Frank Seffrood.

In her letter, she cited that “on-going and recent occurrences” demand that she resign her position effective Thursday.

It is no secret that Smith has opposed several of the decisions and recommendations made by some fellow council members, particularly where the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce and Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation, as well as golf course committee appointments are concerned.

Smith also said in her letter that “negativity and egotism by the city manager and several city council members towards the positive goals and philosophy of our citizens and our city has hindered my performance and negated my ability to assist in furthering the goals that have been set by previous councils.”

However, in a Friday afternoon conversation with the Cove Leader-Press, Smith said there is a deeper reason other than the politics and back-and-forth discussions on the dais that have taken place with the council.

“I couldn’t do it any longer,” Smith said. “I think our city council is dysfunctional, I really do. But that’s not the main reason, because, you know, I can argue with those guys and not get my way, and that’s fine. That doesn’t bother me. The reason I resigned is because of Andrea (Gardner), our city manager.”

During that Friday afternoon telephone conversation, Smith struggled to find the words to elaborate on that main reason for resigning. With that struggle, she then agreed to gather her thoughts and email them to the newspaper.

“There’s going to be more that comes up, so get ready, there will be more and more that comes up, as time goes on,” Smith said.

Smith first took office in November 2013 and was up for reelection this year, with her sole opponent at this time being prior councilman Gary Kent.

Smith said she loves the city of Copperas Cove. She plans to continue her volunteer work in other ways, now that she has stepped down from the council.