GP COUNCILWOMAN RESIGNS; BLAMES MAYOR

GALENA PARK CITY COUNCILWOMAN LOIS KILLOUGH finishes her statement to the public on her resignation from the City Commission, or Council, and the reasons why she feels that she cannot continue to serve the public properly in the “circus” atmosphere created by Mayor Moya.
GALENA PARK CITY COUNCILWOMAN LOIS KILLOUGH finishes her statement to the public on her resignation from the City Commission, or Council, and the reasons why she feels that she cannot continue to serve the public properly in the “circus” atmosphere created by Mayor Moya.
GALENA PARK CITY COUNCILWOMAN LOIS KILLOUGH finishes her statement to the public on her resignation from the City Commission, or Council, and the reasons why she feels that she cannot continue to serve the public properly in the “circus” atmosphere created by Mayor Moya.

“I refuse to be part of the Moya drama show.”

GALENA PARK – In a dramatic statement made at last Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Lois Killough read her resignation message, and at the end of the meeting quit as a member of the City Commission. She held Position #2, responsible for the police and fire departments.

Killough had been elected last May 2014, along with new council members Maricela Serna and Juan Flores, Jr. with the idea that they would bring fresh ideas and changes to the city government. Esmeralda Moya also campaigned for Mayor on these ideas, but with the promise that she would change department heads and “clean up” the way the city was run. Her confrontational style was obvious after she took office, when she immediately changed locks on City Hall doors and fired the City Administrator and demoted the Police Chief, at least temporarily. The new council members and one remaining, Danny Simms, were not able to work with Moya, nor concur with her decisions and methods, and council meetings and governing soon deteriorated into chaos, according to Killough.

Her statement, as printed here in the North Channel Star, refers to the “circus” atmosphere, and the lack of progress in improving the city. She blames Moya for obstructing, and not leading, and not following legal methods of running council. She indicated the stress was affecting her health, one reason for resigning.

Moya told the Star that she thinks the decorum in the meetings has improved, and that she has been polite and listened to all, including the public that Council often ignores.

Council will hold a Special Meeting next Monday, July 27 at 3:00 p.m. to vote on a replacement for Killough, according to City Secretary Mayra Gonzalez.