Leander Mayor Christine DeLisle announced her impending resignation from office during a city council meeting on Sept. 18. With a tenure that began in May 2021, DeLisle, who also served three years as Place 4 on the city council, plans to leave due to a personal decision to relocate, according to a statement obtained by CBS Austin. Her current term was not set to expire until May 2027.
At the meeting, DeLisle reflected on her time in office, "Sometimes we make a lot of plans in our lives and God and life intervene and take you in a different direction," she told the council. During her tenure as mayor, she focused on bringing more commercial development to Leander and improving governmental functions, as well as overseeing the hiring of a new city manager, as she mentioned to CBS Austin.
She also detailed the city's financial growth, noting a significant increase in sales tax revenue: "In 2018, when I got here, we were bringing in $5.16 million in sales tax. This year, it’s estimated we’ll be just under $12 million,” according to KVUE. DeLisle also pointed to the addition of a new recreation center, hiring a conservation specialist, and expanding services like girls' softball as key achievements of her administration.
Despite her departure, DeLisle expressed confidence in Leander's future and her administration's accomplishments, "I'm proud of the work that we've done here and I'm excited for the work you're going to do on the foundations of what we've built. Leander's going to be OK,” DeLisle informed CBS Austin. According to a statement from the city council, a formal resignation has not yet been submitted. Once received, they will call a special election to fill the unexpired mayoral term, which, per statute, must occur within 120 days of her resignation.
Mayor Pro Tem Nicole Thompson is set to fulfill the responsibilities and duties of the mayor following DeLisle’s last council meeting scheduled for Oct. 16. DeLisle assured her commitment to the role until the end: "I intend to serve every day to the best of my ability until the end of our meeting on October 16," she proclaimed, per KVUE. She reiterated that her resignation was not an indication of a bid for other political offices or due to any unresolved issues.
