Williams resigns, Council search for successor begins
WILMINGTON – – Today, Robert A. Williams today resigned his post as Councilman of Wilmington’s 7th District.
“It has been a pleasure to serve the residents of the 7th District and the City of Wilmington as a whole,” wrote Williams in his resignation letter addressed to Council President Hanifa Shabazz. “Likewise, it has been a pleasurable experience working with this Council body.”
Prior to his time serving on Council, he worked as a Medical Fraud Investigator in the Attorney General’s Office, as a Registered Trauma Nurse with Christiana Care and served for over 20 years as Wilmington Police officer. Williams, was elected to Wilmington City Council in 2012 and during his tenure he sponsored several key pieces of legislation including an Ordinance to create better oversight of discretionary spending by Council and the Administration.
“Councilman Williams is an exemplary public servant, a proven leader and has demonstrated time and time again his commitment to the residents of Wilmington’s 7th District,” said President Shabazz. “We are sad to see him go and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
The Wilmington City Council is now soliciting letters of interest from residents of the City’s 7th District who are interested in filling the seat to be vacated by Williams.
Pursuant to the City Charter, to qualify to fill the vacancy, an applicant must be twenty-five (25) years of age or older, affiliated with the same political party as the outgoing Councilmember – in this case a Democrat – and reside in the 7th District.
Those residents interested in filling the vacancy have until August 1, 2019 to submit a letter of interest that includes their vision for the 7th District and the City of Wilmington as well as a copy of their resume to the following email address:
CouncilVacancy@wilmingtonde.gov
Letters of interest can also be submitted by mail to:
Wilmington City Council
Louis L. Redding City/County Building
800 N. French Street, 9th Floor
Letters sent via mail must be postmarked by August 1, 2019.
The Committee of the Whole of Wilmington City Council, chaired by the President shall be charged with recommending a candidate to fill the Council vacancy in accordance with the procedure outlined in the City Charter Section 2-34.
For more information on the application and selection process feel free to contact Marchelle Basnight at (302) 576-2140.