By Shavonne Potts
Salisbury Post
LANDIS ó Just four months after being elected to the town’s Board of Aldermen, Dean Beck said Monday that he is resigning.
Reading from a prepared statement at the beginning of Monday’s regular board meeting, Beck said he felt his work as a police officer deserved his full attention and the health problems of a family member also need his attention.
After shaking hands with aldermen and others, including friend Roger Safrit, Beck left the board’s meeting room.
Alderman Tony Hilton called Beck’s decision to step down, a courageous one, echoing the sentiments of the other aldermen.
Following the meeting, Mayor Dennis Brown, said Beck’s decision to leave was of his own choosing.
“He was in a hard situation. His wife has developed some health issues,” Brown said.
He added that Beck was torn between “having to put himself in the alderman seat and the police captain seat.”
To fill Beck’s now-vacant seat, Brown said the board would either seek applicants or tap the next highest vote-getter in the November election. That was Safrit.
The board could also call for a special election to determine Beck’s replacement, but Brown said that is not something aldermen will consider since the town would have to pay for the election.
He anticipated aldermen will hold a special called meeting within two weeks to narrow their options.
Beck served as alderman once before, in the 1980s. He’s been in law enforcement for nearly 30 years.
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Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com.