Citing recent health concerns, two-term Woodward Mayor Brian Devick announced his resignation at Monday night’s meeting of the Woodward City Council.
Devick said his resignation would take effect immediately. Woodward Mayor Pro Tem David Luke will be the acting mayor until the city council appoints a replacement in October.
Calling his announcement “the toughest decision I have had to make as an elected official,” Devick said he has been “struggling with several medical issues” over the last 18 months, including “two major medical spells” within the last 30 days that required hospitalization.
Devick said his doctors have “directed that I need to stop extra things I am doing, and that includes my serving as mayor for the city of Woodward.”
Devick first mentioned his health issues at the Aug. 13 meeting of the Woodward City Council, but he gave no indication he was considering resigning his office. He said Monday he was “deeply saddened” by the turn of events.
In an emotional statement released Tuesday on his Facebook page, titled “Please Read – Final Post,” Devick took his public leave of the community he served.
I have served now for almost seven years as mayor. I have not always been perfect in my position, but I have always acted with the best of integrity and in the best interest of our community. I have worked hard to represent our town as the best community in Iowa.
I am proud of our community and the things we have accomplished during my term. I am most thankful for the people I have had the privilege to work with. Thank you to our city staff, the city attorney, engineer, county officials and more.
To everyone in our community, my friends, neighbors, supporters and more – Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your mayor. Thank you for your support, your encouragement and for working together as the great community we are. I appreciate you very much! It is the people that make our community great. Thank you.
This will be my final post as mayor. I wish the best to my successors and for our community. For the last time: Good night, and God bless the city of Woodward.
Luke was appointed mayor pro tem at the July 9 meeting of the Woodward City Council, replacing the previous mayor pro tem, Woodward City Council member Todd Folkerts. The council agreed Monday to publicize the upcoming mayoral appointment in order to give Woodward residents an opportunity to offer nominations for the office.
If there is opposition to the council’s appointment, a petition signed by 20 residents of Woodward and presented to the Dallas County Auditor within 14 days of the appointment would cause a special election to be held, according to Lance Kramer, senior election clerk in the Dallas County Auditor’s office.
Devick’s final months in office were clouded by questions raised at a special council session in June at which he “was accused of not completing building permits for property he used to own on E. First Street,” according to minutes of the meeting.
In replying to the claims, Devick said “he had done everything correctly.” He said that “morality and integrity means more to him than anything else,” and “he is putting the issue to bed.”
Responding to rumors circulating “in town and on social media,” Devick said, “The people of Woodward should have a sense of community, neighbors helping one another. This is what makes a community good.”
