Incoming District Two Temple City Councilmember Bryant Ward abruptly declined his seat in a letter to the city Thursday morning.
Ward, who was scheduled to take the oath of office in May, wrote he would not take the position for personal reasons that would prevent him from being able to carry out his duties as a council member.
City Secretary Lacy Borgeson, who accepted the letter, said Temple will hold a special election to fill the vacancy.
Decisions about when a special election might be held were expected to be made during a special city council meeting on April 12.
