After 11 tumultuous months, Dave Gordon has resigned as mayor of Black Diamond today, Nov. 25.

People, City of Black Diamond:

This has been a very difficult decision to make as I have been very proud and happy to represent this City for the past year. However due to circumstance beyond my control, I feel I can’t serve the duties of Mayor to the standard I set for myself. The current culture of City Hall is not in the people’s best interest. I have worked hard to foster support from every political group and individual.

I would like to thank the voters that voted for me and the people that believed in me. For my supporters, I would like to say thank you

I firmly believe you are part of the solution or part of the problem. I no longer feel I’m part of the solution. I must step aside to shine the light brightly on the problem. To that resolve I submit my letter of resignation with immediate effect.

When the burdens of the presidency seem unusually heavy, I always remind myself it could be worse. I could be a mayor. ~ Lyndon B. Johnson

Thank you

The Reporter first learned of the resignation through an email from City Clerk Brenda Martinez sent at 4:30 p.m.

Attached to the email was a revised notice and agenda for the Dec. 1 special meeting for the Black Diamond City Council, with the item added, “Discussion and Appointment of Mayor.”

In the email Martinez wrote “Attached is the revised notice and agenda for the December 1, 2014 special meeting of the Black Diamond City Council. Due to the resignation of Mayor Gordon today the added item to this agenda is discussion and appointment of Mayor.”

When reached by phone, City Councilman Ron Taylor told The Reporter that he only heard about the resignation today.

“It’s a surprise to me, too,” Taylor said. “I’m just learning about like everybody else.”

Councilwoman Carol Benson is the Mayor Pro Tem and a message was left at her home seeking comment. Taylor said it’s too early to make any comments about who will step into the role.

“We’re just trying to figure out ourselves how do we go from here and have a smooth transition,” Taylor said. “We’ll certainly make sure things continue to operate and remain as stable as possible. Beyond that, I cant say a whole lot because I don’t know a whole lot.”

Black Diamond is already without a city administrator, after Christy Todd resigned in May following a sexual harassment complaint against Gordon.

Taylor was among the council members that called for Gordon’s resignation following the controversy with Todd.

“It’s no secret that I’ve had my misgivings about his leadership, so I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to maybe operate a little smoother, but that remains to be seen,” Taylor said.

Gordon won a contentious election in November 2013 beating former mayor Rebecca Olness, who was seeking a second term.

A central issue in the election involved YarrowBay’s master planned developments, The Villages and Lawson Hills. Much of Gordon’s support came from groups and citizens fighting the developments.

Following Gordon’s resignation today, Olness commented, “I don’t know any details but I’m very disappointed. It’s unfortunate that Mayor Gordon was unable to fulfill his obligation by completing  his term.”

Gordon had three years remaining on his four-year term.

The state Supreme Court has denied a petition for review by Toward Responsible Development of the Court of Appeals and Superior Court ruling upholding the permits and YarrowBay’s plans for the two master planned developments.