To the Town of Hammondville and Its People,

The town has had a revolving door of mayors and council members since the death of Mayor Susan Akes in 2020. The pending resignation of Mayor Gene Cleckler will put the town on its fifth mayor in two and a half years.
After being sworn in, it was my primary objective to stabilize the town’s financial situation. I quickly discovered that the town had not completed its legally mandated financial audit since 2019. I call upon the media, authorities, and the people of the town to ensure that these audits are completed thoroughly and quickly, as I have no faith that they will be–if leadership is not pushed.

It is my understanding that my resignation will cause a lack of quorum, thus allowing Governor Ivey to become involved in appointing council members and a mayor. I see this as the only method to stop the spiraling cycle of retaliatory attacks, false accusations, and staged political theater that is designed to get the opposition to resign. 
Although some of the remaining members of the town government are honorable people, I call upon all council members and the clerk to resign so that the town might have a fresh start void of partisan politics and false accusations. I call upon the Governor to appoint a mayor and council that will consist of members that have not served in the town government in the last five years and are not closely related to those that have. By such action and keeping with that great ideal of Plato that only those that do not seek power are qualified to hold it, the town might form a functional and peaceful government.

I would like to be clear that my resignation is not related to the recent accusation against the candidate for police chief. I have no knowledge of this accusation other than what was said in the council meeting, and it can be found in the prior minutes where I have advocated to not have a Chief of Police regardless of whom it might be until the town’s financial and political situation might be stabilized.

This resignation is to be effective 3/27/23.

Thanks
Ben Windom
Council Member Place 5
Town of Hammondville