Ventura Mayor Art Tesar will step down Jan. 31

Ventura Mayor Art Tesar submitted his resignation to the City Council Monday night.  Tesar, who was elected in November 2013, is moving out of the Ventura city limits and into Clear Lake.  The resignation is effective Saturday, Jan. 31.

The Ventura City Council now has two options to fill the mayor’s post.  The Council must appoint a person to serve as mayor within 60 days.  That person would remain in office until the November General Election.  The second option the Council is considering is holding a special election.

Until either an appointment is made or a special election is held, Mayor Pro-Tem Darwin Avery will assume the duties of mayor.

Tesar was elected Mayor of Ventura, after 69 votes were cast for him as a write-in candidate in November 2013.  There were no mayoral candidates on the ballot that year after George Simpson chose to step-down.

The former Clear Lake City Councilman (1988-1999) said he and his wife, Nelda, had hoped to remain in Ventura when they downsized their home.

“We had been looking over a year for a home in Ventura and we couldn’t find what we were looking for.  Then when we got an offer on our house we had to do something.  We were able to find a smaller home in Clear Lake with a smaller, flat yard,” said Tesar.  “I really wanted to serve my term, but it didn’t work out.”

Tesar said he was pleased to have been able to serve the Ventura community and said he was impressed with the Ventura City Council.

“The City Council is very good, very thoughtful.  They examine things carefully.  The people of Ventura are in good hands with their City Council,” he said.