MITCHELLVILLE, Iowa —Mitchellville Mayor Tony Jensen resigned Tuesday night via text during a city council meeting, ending months of tension over his residency and leadership.Jensen was not present at the meeting, but as the council finished reviewing evidence about whether he still lived in town, they received a text from him stating he would step down.Less than a year after his election, Jensen’s resignation leaves Mitchellville without a mayor. The decision follows months of conflict betwe...
MITCHELLVILLE, Iowa —
Mitchellville Mayor Tony Jensen resigned Tuesday night via text during a city council meeting, ending months of tension over his residency and leadership.
Jensen was not present at the meeting, but as the council finished reviewing evidence about whether he still lived in town, they received a text from him stating he would step down.
Less than a year after his election, Jensen’s resignation leaves Mitchellville without a mayor. The decision follows months of conflict between him and the city council, during which council members accused him of missing meetings and ultimately asked him to resign.
Councilwoman Morgan Lunn said the resignation was a relief.
"The process has been rather interesting. Very taxing on our residents. And so I'm looking forward to everything moving forward," she said.
Despite Jensen’s resignation, the council determined during the meeting that he was ineligible to hold office based on evidence from the city and county assessor showing he does not live in Mitchellville.
In an interview, Jensen admitted to purchasing a house in Bondurant but said he does not live there.
"I have stayed here in Mitchellville, in my RV with friends, because my family wanted to leave, because they're being harassed so badly that I had to get them out of town," Jensen said.
Jensen also explained why he did not attend the meeting.
"It's not worth the fight. I would have lost the battle tonight. I would have had to hire an attorney, fight the battle to prove where I'm living, and it just — it's not worth that struggle," he said.
For now, Mitchellville is without a mayor, but the city council voted to appoint a new one rather than hold a special election, citing cost concerns and the need for stability after nearly a year of turmoil.
"It creates a lot of hesitancy, a lot of searching around how stable our community is when it comes to leadership when you have so many changes," Lunn said. "That is why we're looking to appoint rather than having yet another special election."
It's unknown when that appointment will occur.
Share